J & B Consulting

High Angle Rope Rescue

2011-12-29T16:44:00.000-06:00

Just completed an High Angle Rope Rescue orientated course at the technician level for the fire department here. Was a small crew due to the season (which is better in many ways for the attendee's).

Had a lot of fun and covered a lot of material. More pictures to follow. Happy New Year. js

Competition Training

2011-09-17T22:41:00.000-05:00

Spent a couple of days earlier this month assisting Meadowbank (Agnico-Eagle) north of Baker Lake Nunavut to prepare for the National Western Regional Mine Rescue Competition. It was my privilege to assist them and though they did not win any events, for their second ever competition they received compliments from the judges which is commendable.
I concentrated on rope work but also reviewed other area's. They have the makings of a good team.

Of course: the obligatory tripod.

Demonstrating self rescue techniques.

Supervising.

A vehicle rescue exercise.

I enjoyed working with them and look forward to seeing how they and the rest of the team advance in the future. js

Fire Department

2010-12-19T21:38:00.000-06:00

I have just joined another fire department, to get extra training and to assist my community. Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. js

Some more pictures from HA Rope Rescue Course

2010-12-19T21:35:00.001-06:00

Restricted access entry lift.

Setting up a belay.

Lower section of a sloping High-line (no good anchors so set up without a live load.

A simulated load.

Single Kootenay pulley and a separated tagline.

High Angle Rope Rescue Technician Level I

2010-12-19T21:27:00.000-06:00

Just completed a course here with the local Fire Department. Good bunch of guys. The first picture is one of the members carrying out a ascending techic (for self rescue).

This is one of the fellows rappelling.

Operating the belay line.

Conducting a raise with a dummy in the basket and a team member acting as the barrel boy.

High Angle Rope Acess and Rescue Technician

2010-12-14T21:29:00.000-06:00

Conducting a course here, pictures to follow. js

Fall

2010-10-09T23:42:00.000-05:00

I am guilty of not posting here in quite sometime. We have recently heard of the rescue team reaching the trapped miners down in South America, this took dedication and inovation... and lots of patience and trust on the part of workers and families.

I attended FireCon in Thunder Bay a couple of weeks past, a concentration of volunteer and professional firefighters from Northern Ontario. The lessons learned and shared experiences are vital to grow. I was able to participate on a course run by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources on Land Fires.

It was a good couple of days, meet new people and got to share idea's and learn from others mistakes and successes.

Hope your fall is going safe and is profitable. I will get on here and post more soon. js

Rest in Peace

2010-06-25T21:13:00.000-05:00

There are some households tonight who need our prayers. js

Safety Management

2010-04-11T08:04:00.001-05:00

Is your workplace safe... or is it in compliance? Not always the same thing. It has been said that the safety regulations have been written in blood. The for every rule or requirement, if you trace it back, there is a fatality, serious injury or close call causing that piece of legislation to be crafted.

I have never met a manager yet that wanted workers under his direction to be injured or killed. And yet, while walking through even some of the most modern plants and work-sites that is the impression one receives on the floor.

How is it that the senior management desires their plant to be safe and yet on the floor safe practices are pushed aside or ignored to 'get the job done'?

We can easily point out blame, 'it is the supervisors' (it is always the supervisors, but who trained and leads them?), it is the union mentality, it is hard to hire good people. These are amazing statements as other plants are safe and they hire from the same or similar pools of people, they may be unionized or not, what is the difference.

A difference that we can duplicate?

Management is only one part of running a work-site, the critical element is leadership. Due to most management courses conducted now we sometimes confuse management with leadership. We all know that there are natural leaders, but with the proper motivation anyone can lead. You don't need to be a great orator or charismatic or handsome. You need to know what you want to get done.

Leadership means giving clear direction as to what you want to happen, encouraging those who are to conduct the job to 'buy in', to take ownership. Give them as much leeway as possible, allow them to set goals, hold them accountable for results but also reward good work (this does not have to be monetary or promotion orientated).

I have been on many sites where things are not going right. It is always a shock to most when I state that "if the manager wanted it to happen it would". Is that always 100% correct? Not really, no one can control everything, however by leadership one can guide and direct a workforce in the way one wants it to go.

If we want a safe workplace we need to start with the basics.

The most critical is leadership by example, does the manager follow all of the safety rules, at all times on-site? If he/she does not need to follow these rules or procedures do we really need them?... that is what your workforce is asking.

Does the manager condone unsafe practices (even just momentary slips "we're just passing through here...")?

Does the manager send mixed messages?: "work safe..... lets just get the done quickly, we don't have time for that today".

Does the manager not follow up on safety issues, trust is essential... but "trust and verification" are also essential. People forget, get wrapped up in the daily grind. It is a managers job to verify if "things are so".

I could go on but you get the point I am sure. Management and leadership are not the same thing but they are two parts of the whole, whether you are a strong leader or not you are providing leadership to the workforce. Leadership that is being imitated.

Lead by example, and have a safe work-site. js

Safety Management

2010-01-21T07:37:00.000-06:00

I am currently up north at a minesite, I have spent the past week assisting in sorting out an ERT establishment and tomorrow start to conduct a Basic Mine Rescue course to add to their teams numbers.
As safety managers, we need to be aware that though we may have general knowledge in many areas of industry we are not experts, we can be lied to, mislead (intentionally or unintentionally) or even misunderstand what we have been told.
It is incumbent on us to try to get the facts. If we have workers who are no longer working to their potential, are displaying questionable attitude traits over a period of time, it is not good enough to say "oh well, his heart is not in it anymore". There may be deeper meanings. In these tough economic times many workers will not tell the boss bad news.

Without the truth as a basis, what you plan is based on sand, and a house built on sand will collapse.

It is our job to get the facts. Play safe out their guys. js

Where to start...

2009-12-28T07:48:00.002-06:00

With prayers for the family members. js

Work safe, go home safe...

2009-12-25T14:08:00.000-06:00

I know that many of you are working today... Christmas day. How quick that we forget that many jobs still need to be covered off during the holidays. I am especially aware of this due to traveling north to isolated sites.
Christmas is a time of year where our expectations may cause us to become distraught as life rarely lives up to our dreams.
If you need to work today, please take care pay close attention to what you are doing... and get home to spend time with your loved ones.

Merry Christmas. js

Last set of photos

2009-12-02T10:39:00.000-06:00

Second course repeling.

Suiting up for the search exercise.

Garbage bags to reduce visibility and to increase heat to rescuer.

Last morning onsite, waiting for bus to runway. I love the north. Enjoyed working with these fellows, look forward to training with them again. js

Even more photos

2009-12-02T10:32:00.001-06:00

Posing in his 'spring' butterfly harness.

The outside view.

The inside view, looking up.

Letting myself be used as a training aid (ya that's a pillow.... ;-). js

More photos

2009-12-02T10:28:00.000-06:00

Here's Gerry going over the edge.

Crawling under obstacles.

First course, last day. js

Photo's

2009-12-02T10:23:00.001-06:00

This is in front of the Municipal Airport in Val D'Or PQ. I have not been in this area of Quebec since I was a young man, just flying through to Nunavut.

I am demonstrating a 'low anchor high repel no wall. One of the course members was acting as repelmaster (Gerry O).

Letting my hand creep a little forward...

Here's one of the fellows, I demonstrated how to get out of a flip-over (common on a low anchor if you are not sitting and rotating to start your descent). More pictures to follow. js

Completion

2009-11-23T17:40:00.000-06:00

Completed the second Basic (Surface) Mine Rescue course here at Meadowbank. The trainee's were very enthusiastic and it was a pleasure to teach. Heading out of here Wednesday, pictures to follow on arrival home. Play safe. js

Basic Mine Rescue (Surface) and ERT

2009-11-21T07:23:00.000-06:00

Very busy days, conducting second basic course here. Also carried out some more advance sessions for members who are already on the team, focused on Post Fall Arrest type incidents.
The MSA Suretyman is a neat piece of kit and it is simple to adapt it into more complex situations.
Internet here is not very advantageous to upload photo's, so they will need to wait. Play safe today (if you are working). js

Basic Mine Rescue (Surface)

2009-11-15T20:25:00.000-06:00

Just checking in, just finished a course here in Nunavut (photo's to follow). Going to be conducting a second one here in a couple of days.
A picture is worth a thousand words, make sure that the picture can be seen clearly and is relevant to what you are describing.
I enjoy working with mine rescue men (and women). js

Instructing

2009-10-30T06:14:00.000-05:00

I have been assisting on an instructor’s course (designed to assist knowledgeable folks in getting in front of a class and passing on their experience and an approved subject matter). A question that has come up (several times), is why on these types of course's, the Instructor Trainers not 'teach' the actual material to demonstrate to the student instructors the standard.
When I was in the military this was a common way of developing instructors. In the basic class we followed 'EDI' i.e.: 'explanation' ‘demonstration' followed by 'imitation'. The instructor breaks things down into manageable parts; explains it, demonstrates it and has the student imitate the skill. The main instructor (depending on the type of course) 'taught' every subject, and then the student instructors did the same. Yes I know; time is of an essence and this may not always be possible in the work world, but the principal can and should be followed for maximum results. People learn best by watching successful people.
Instructing is a skill (yes I know it is also partly an art) it can be taught. Many instructor's are out there making rookie mistakes that they don't recognize... and no one has taken the time (nor in some cases are they {the instructor} willing to listen) to point out their errors and shortfalls (in presentation and instructing ability not subject knowledge).
Every good instructor must allow feedback that is trouble free to the student (i.e.: is not going to cause the student grief if the instructor doesn't like what he hears). Every instructor must review the results of training and decide if the shortfalls are because of his or her shortcomings in passing the knowledge or skill and not because of a lack of some sort among the student group or his or her materials.
This all seems like common sense, but as we all know there is very little 'common' sense out there, too often we all do 'what is right in our own eyes'.
Take confidential feedback from all of your classes or course's, review results and your efforts. Recognize your shortfalls, your equipment or training aids deficiencies and take steps (within your abilities) to improve.
Students will enjoy taking your classes.
Have a safe day. js

Remember

2009-09-11T08:31:00.001-05:00

Back to work

2009-08-24T07:53:00.000-05:00

It has been a slow summer (maybe the downturn...?). Things seem to be picking up again. I have been busy with home renovations so little time to post. I have some thoughts I want to work out then I will post again.
Hope you all had a safe relaxing summer. js

Home Renovations

2009-05-26T16:46:00.003-05:00

Runway and one of the pits at Ekati Diamond Mine

Last minute on camp.

Middle of a spring snowstorm.

I am in the process (continuing) of home renovations. Currently widening out some area's of my mom’s apartment and looking to add a wheelchair accessible ramp. All basic carpentry and plumbing type work with some minor electrical.

The tendency (yes even for us safety guys) is to fling the safety boots, PPE etc to the wind when we are working at home.

Not going to throw statistics and stuff at you, but I am going to remind you that all of the same distractions are at play when working away from work and the hazards are just as great and unpredictable if not planned for.

Take the time to do the work right, safely, the first time. Play safe.

Above are some more pictures from my last trip up north. js

Safety Audits

2009-05-12T21:49:00.003-05:00

I am currently in an isolated camp north of Yellowknife conducting a Safety Audit. Just the fact that someone has been sent to site to seriously look into work practices raises awareness. Play safe this week.

Took this picture out my tent door a couple of minutes back. js

More Pictures

2009-05-09T18:46:00.005-05:00

More improvisation.

Group shot, Ekati.

KED

Securing with triangulars. js

Advanced First Medical Responder pictures

2009-05-09T17:06:00.008-05:00

Extracting a casualty from a Toyota with a KED.

Securing a casualty to a spine board with a set of Spider Straps.

Securing a man to a basket and board with imporvisation.

Even with all of the busy-ness I have been dealing with I have had time to go into two northern diamond mines and conduct a couple of course's (about two months apart).

It is always fun to work with Mine Rescue men (and women). Off again tomorrow to northern climes to conduct a Safety Audit. A little cooler up there than here... not by much however, it was snowing outside today!

Above are some pictures of the guys packaging casualties.

Play safe. js

Advanced First Medical Responder

2009-04-22T12:12:00.002-05:00

Well, have spent the past week (and a couple more days to come) conducting two AFMR Level One course's for the Snap Lake Mine here in the Northwest Territories. A young keen bunch of fella's. Pictures will follow. js

Play safe this month

2009-03-28T03:00:00.001-05:00

Earth day is upon us. Many will do things, some will not. It is great to live in a free country. Still very busy with family events but trying to get back into work.

I will try to post here soon. js

Situation no change...

2009-03-06T14:04:00.000-06:00

Still busy with family, will post when able. js

Been meaning to post...

2009-02-06T21:11:00.001-06:00

but I have been caught up in a family emergency. Funny, the day I posted about air travel safety awareness we were delayed from take off one hour then deverted back to Edmonton due to aircraft problems. Got into Yellowknife five hours late. Better feet on the ground than shaky nerves in the air...

Will post when the dust settles. js

Be ready...

2009-01-28T04:26:00.006-06:00

I travel quite a bit lately, not as much as some, much more than many. One thing I do is that I am always (hopefully) prepared for is something going wrong.

Simple things like missing a connection and having to live off my 'carry on' for a day or two. Losing my luggage and having to work and perform with whatever I have with me... (a horrible state to be in at a remote site). And worse case, something goes terribly wrong with the conveyance I am traveling in.

This has only happened to me twice, a van I was traveling in as a work passenger rolled, no one injured praise the Lord, but it could have been serious. Another time, with my wife and newborn son, the truck we owned decided to die on a semi-isolated highway in an Alberta winter, praise God a passerby stopped and offered help.

I have been on two planes that needed to conduct emergency landings but the Lord's hands were there and both were so uneventful that in one case I am sure that there were some who were unaware at the time.

I always try to bring some snack food to eat and dress for the worst case, comfortable and warm and loose fitting clothing, footwear that can be 'walked in' being the most important, in winter carry something for the face, neck and hands.

As embarrassing as it is to have to many clothing items and 'stuff' when you get on a plane, it would be far more embarrassing to be short in an emergency. You can always take clothing off, it is very hard to put on what you don't have. There are many small compressible items available that will take very little room in carry on.

Just some thoughts, you will have to decide what is relevant for you. You never know when you may go swimming in the Hudson...

Travel safe. js

Thank you President Bush

2009-01-20T20:24:00.000-06:00

For your service. js

Back to work

2009-01-10T09:37:00.003-06:00

Spent most of this week getting caught up on work that has lapsed while I was travelling or over the Christmas period. It is easy to get behind and the tendency is to try to quickly 'master' the situation and get back into the flow.

This can be detrimental as our reflexes after prolonged periods away from the work-site can become dulled. Care should be taken to approach the job again as a rookie, at least for the first couple of minutes, to get ourselves back into the 'habit'.

Play safe at work, take your time and do it right. Go home the same way you came. js

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T11:32:00.000-06:00

Nothing more to say. js

Pictures

2008-12-22T19:49:00.000-06:00

More pictures

2008-12-22T19:43:00.000-06:00

Pictures

2008-12-22T19:36:00.001-06:00

Surface Mine Rescue Course
Donning SCBA

Just left Agnico-Eagle Meadowbank

2008-12-21T21:56:00.002-06:00

Spent the past 5 days prepping and deliverying a Basic Surface Mine Rescue course onsite. I believe the training went well, a keen bunch. Looking forward to getting home, it has been a long month.
Mining never ceases to amaze me, so many different folks, from so many area's and they all work together.
Christmas is almost upon us, try to ensure that you do not allow the 'stresses' of this season to effect your ability to pay attention while in traffic, looking at the weather channel and it seems that most of Canada is under storm warning.
Be prepared for break down, have some blankets, a tarp, a few candles and some waterproof matches. Make sure someone knows where you are going, a cell phone is handy.
Will post some pictures when I get a stronger internet signal.
Take it easy, Merry Christmas to you all. js

A busy month to date...

2008-12-16T21:00:00.010-06:00

Been in a couple of locations in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut conducting some Advance First Medical Responder training, followed by Post Fall Arrest (Basic High Angle Rope Work) and assisting on an Ice Rescue course.

Some of these pics are of the students. Not too many pictures taken, busy.

Still to conduct a Basic Surface Mine Rescue course here then home for Christmas Lord willing.

Always is a pleasure to work with folks who are dedicated to improving and building on their skill set. Lord willing more pictures to follow in a couple of days. js

A Safe Attitude

2008-12-13T18:32:00.002-06:00

When I am walking around a site, there are many indications that make it clear to me whether the management and workforce are diligent towards following safe work procedures. Some of them in themselves, may seem trivial, but combined they can give a clear picture of what is actually going on, what the actual attitude towards following procedures is.

Workers without appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (safety glasses & hardhats) in area's where the policies state or the worksite environment requires same, smoking in area's where the company or the worker could receive a fine while supervisory personnel are in eyesight range, Safety personnel who state that they are not getting support. These are just some, easily seen and commented upon.

This stems from the top, no one likes to look into the mirror and say "I'm the man" but in this case and similar ones; "if the shoe fits, then you wear it".

Senior management sets the tone for the job attitude towards safe work procedures on a worksite. It is far too easy to make the statement that those rules are not as important or that they are safe where it counts.

If you allow your workers to disregard rules in one area, then all areas will become negotiable, this is deadly.

Procedures and safe work rules must be doable and not unrealistic, then they must be enforced. If they cannot be enforced due to complexity or unsuitability, then they must be reviewed rewritten if required, removed if un-needed and if after this process, if the hazard still exists then re-instated (and enforced).

Christmas is getting close, the time of year when many of us (for not only personal reasons, but because of the TV commercials and shows, the music in shopping and public area's) may not be fully concentrating on our work.

Supervisors, you must be on the ball, managers, you must not let them down, train them and back them up!

I may get a chance to post again prior to the Christmas week, but if not, Best Wishes during the holiday season to you all. God Bless. js

Mine safety & post fall arrest

2008-12-08T21:15:00.002-06:00

Been visiting a northern mine for the past week, conducting some mine rescue/first aid type training. Been a good visit. Off to another property for a few days to conduct some post fall arrest type training.
With the pressures that are placed on the lower body when a person falls, there is absolutely no excuse to not have some method to allow a worker to raise himself off of the straps. Have some pictures that are not appropriate for my forum but I cannot imagine the pain the worker was in.
If you are doing rescue work this can be easily remedied by a webbing strap to a lower leg.
I will be posting some pictures on this when I get home. js

Racing trains

2008-10-24T11:07:00.002-05:00

Funny thing after that last post, I was conducting a Emergency First Aid course and the attenders were all engineers from CN Rail.

Off course the conversation turned to what exactly would be big enough for them to feel it when it hit if it was across the tracks. After listening to their stories about frozen moose and tree's upwards of 18 inches in diameter and not feeling anything in the cab, I am convinced (if I needed it) that racing the train is beyond ridiculous.

You can't win, slow down. You all play safe today. js

An Iron Clad Document

2008-10-18T07:58:00.003-05:00

I did not write the following, and though I may agree or disagree with some of the statements I believe it is a good article to illustrate our current attitudes towards the safety of our workforce by reflecting on the past.

I do not believe, if you had asked a business, industrial or railway man from the previous century or prior about his concern for his workers that he would have thought himself careless, I think he would have just fiqured it was the cost of business and development and something fiscally beyond his control. We have all heard the term "act of God" or "beyond our control" (probably too often...).

Enough of my comments, enjoy:

On October 24, 1908, Mrs. Avery Burke, from Crowley, Louisiana, received a telegram informing her that her husband was seriously injured while working as a railroad brakeman.

Unfortunately, many family members of railroaders received telegrams of the same nature in the 1800’s.
Needless to say, years ago a railroad brakeman’s job was an extremely dangerous one. Many were killed or maimed due to being crushed between railcars, tumbling from a railcar or falling between the cars of a moving train.
Before the advent of the automatic braking system, brakemen had to physically apply the brakes on each individual railcar au la main (by hand.) It was extremely dangerous and unsafe. The brakemen’s job was to climb on top of the roof of the railcar and walk on a narrow wooden catwalk or platform to get to the brake wheel, as the train was moving and the railcar was swaying from side to side and pitching under his feet. There were no handrails to grasp to steady themselves while performing their duties. Once a car’s brakes were applied or released, the brakemen had to cross the gap between the railcars by jumping in many, if not all, cases. And even in inclement weather.
The train’s length, determined how many brakemen were required on each train. Here, in Louisiana, on flat terrain, only two were usually required, the head and rear brakemen. Their job was to actually walk on top of the railcars while the train was moving. The train’s Engineer would signal, by the use of the train’s horn or whistle, when to apply or to release the brakes by turning a brake wheel.
There were numerous times the signals were not heard or were misinterpreted; and subsequently, many times, a derailment or collision occurred because of the inability to stop the train in a timely manner.
When the automatic airbrake system was adopted it greatly improved the railroad safety. No longer were brakemen required to risk life and limb to stop a train; and now with the locomotive engineer in control of the brakes, whistle signal misinterpretation for applying and releasing brakes were eliminated. As a result, longer and heavier trains could safety run at higher speeds.
During this era, before automatic airbrake system and the link and pin couplers, railroaders could not purchase life insurance due to the hazardous nature and frequency of on the job fatalities and injuries!
Benevolent societies were created for the purpose of collecting donations to give to a bereaved family after the death or serious injury to a co-worker. In the 1860’s when unions were first created, contrary to popular belief, they were not created for safety reasons. Their primary purpose was to provide life insurance to the members who died as a result of their extremely hazardous duties. At the time union organizations were formed, seventy percent of all train crews could expect an injury within five years of service. In 1893, over 18,000 railroad workers were injured and 1,657 were killed. In addition, prior to the unions there were no laws requiring safety in the rail industry, or seniority rights for employees; and employees were fired at the whim of company officers. In fact, any employee of the rail industry who attempted to form or belong to a union was fired without recourse.
Many railroad employees were required to sign a contract, infamously known as a “yellow dog contract or clause” at the time of hire, which meant immediate removal from service, or fired, to any employee who joined a union. This agreement containing a pledge not to join a union was also referred to as the “Infamous Document,” and sometimes called an “iron clad document.” The name, “iron clad” soon became synonymous with non-union promise until the close of the nineteenth-century.
In 1893, one of the first victories for unions was won with the passage of the Safety Appliance Act that outlawed the “old man-killer”, the link and pin coupler, which required a trainmen to hold the link in one hand, while the engineer shoved his train or railcars towards the car to be coupled to, as the trainmen inserted the pin into the link to secure the coupling. Lots of fingers and hands were mangled, not to mention life and limb.
Five years later, in 1898, another Congressional Act made it a criminal offense for railroads to dismiss employees or to discriminate against prospective employees because of their union membership or activity. Other acts and laws soon followed which greatly improved safety and working conditions for the employees in the rail industry.Today, railroad work is still dangerous, but not unsafe as it once was.

Hattip to: William http://conservativecajun.blogspot.com/

Play safe today. js

Home from Dryden

2008-10-04T19:29:00.003-05:00

Just home from Dryden, attended a conference on Entreprenueship. It was interesting to talk and meet with small and large businessmen and women and consultants in other and similar fields.

Talked with a President of a trucking company which has successfully set up themselves to met the ISO standards. This is a good idea and will open her company up to new contracts from organizations that require this standard among their bidders.

I am all for bringing our work standards up, the only difficulty I have is that too many times, the senior management 'buys in' but the workforce and middle management do not.

Leadership is everything, if the senior management allow themselves to get to busy focused on the bottomline or meeting deadlines the first thing to go (especially in smaller organizations) will be the safety rules... we're all in a hurry and the job needs to get done, the order needs to be met, etc etc.

Safety management needs to be on the front boiler for all senior managers and owners. When I was talking with this woman president, I mentioned that I have taught various course's on sites where the attendee's had no idea who I was, (just a "WHMIS", "First Aid" or "whatever") instructor. I try to always utilize the companies safety policy in any training. When workers body language speaks, it speaks volumes.

You should regularly question your employees confidentially as to what they truely thing of your safety record and act on the deficiencies, most do not cost money just time. Serious accidents have a habit of being under the radar until they strike.

It was enjoyable to talk with a CEO who was dedicated to her workforce and organization. js

Monthly Safety Point

2008-09-07T16:24:00.003-05:00

Be aware while driving that the kids are back on the streets. I have noticed many times (now that I don't keep regular travel times due to working at home or on different sites and irregular timings) that there times of great traffic load and others when the traffic is quite sparse.

The kids have had all summer to dash about, many times in the same location that they are now schooling, it is far too easy for them to 'not notice' the extra cars. Of course it is only all too human to want to get where we are going, to be mentally focused on what we want to achieve for the day… with its tendency to 'not' see things around us.

Take extra care today and for the next couple of weeks to be extra vigilant, leave a little earlier, stay within or even just a little below the posted speed limit, don’t allow yourself to get in a hurry.

When I was in the military, one of the signs posted in the 'Permanent Married Quarters' (PMQ) area where my wife and I lived (prior to children), stated: "Please slow down, the child you hit... may be your own."

Please slow down. js

August Safety Talk

2008-08-19T07:20:00.002-05:00

As the summer draws to a close it is important that we not drop our guard towards ours and others safety, both on the job and at home or the lake, cottage, country, travel etc.

From my experience and from studies I have reviewed many accidents happen only miles from our homes, in familiar territory, usually due to us 'dropping' our guard and relaxing before the task or job is complete. This applies more readily to the jobsite also.

Enjoy the last days of the summer, go into the winter months to come with a positive attitude towards yours, your co-workers and families safety. js

July Safety Point

2008-07-18T08:18:00.003-05:00

When orientating your workforce and management personel it is important to set out clear 'authority' and 'accountability' guidelines. Bullying and harassment take many forms and at times are difficult to recognise.

This is primarily a Human Resources issue but will easily become a Safety one as a "Hostile Work Environment" can cause lack of attention, short cut taking and in extreme cases unacceptable risk taking.

Ensure your workplace requirements are clear and that all levels are aware that they can bring up these points and that action will be taken. js

Heading home

2008-06-03T15:35:00.003-05:00

Just left Ekati in the Northwest Territories, working with their 'Emergency Response' Competition Mine Rescue team members under contract through 'Arctic Response'.
Covered a lot of ground in only a few days, reviewed basic skills and conducted some individual and team level Underground and Surface Mining First Aid orientated scenarios. We also conducted some Low and High Angle Rope Rescue training. Was a lot of fun and I believed we all learned a lot. Of course I was so busy I didn't take any photos. Next time.
Can only wish them the best on their upcoming performance in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Annual Mine Rescue Competition in Yellowknife next week.

June Safety Point: What you ignore you condone, what you condone you accept and by extension, what you accept you actually may inadvertently encourage.
As management and leaders be aware that your workers and supervisors are always watching your example (even as you are stepping out to the parking lot). Have a safe month. js

Busy Month

2008-05-26T17:29:00.002-05:00

May has been a busy month. Updating some of my skills and preparing for future contracts. Off to the north again in a few days, assisting a Mine Rescue team in their preparations for competition. I am a firm believer in: 'how you train, is how you will perform when the chips fall'.
I will keep you posted. js

Update and May Safety Tip

2008-05-08T12:47:00.005-05:00

Three man exploratory team working its way through the mine. Very small amount of underground area available here and because operations are going on in all area's. There is nothing that can beat training in the environment that you will operate in.
Used garbage bags over the head instead of 'real' smoke to simulate limited visibility, this is much harder than 'real' smoke as with the bag, you cannot see anything.
Smoke sometimes breaks, clears or is thin enough due to air currents that you may be able to see your hands or even just in front of your face. With double bags and tied on there is no visibility, period. Most UG fires, you will not be able to see anything if in smoke.
Garbage bags have one other major drawback, your body heat does not dissipate. Even with the cool temperatures of this site and ice blocks of the BG4, you 'warm up'.
This can and will add stress from heat which could be present in underground fire conditions. The team must be closely monitored by the trainer to ensure safety, this is very tiring.
Guys worked really hard, good training.

May Safety Tip: Check all of your equipment before starting the job, make sure it is in good shape, serviceable and that all safety devices and guards are operational, if it is not safe, replace or repair. A couple of seconds can prevent a lifetime of regret.

Have a safe day. js

April Safety Tip

2008-04-08T16:43:00.002-05:00

"Check your worksite": Before you start work, do a quick look around and ensure that nothing untoward has changed since you were last there. You never know who has been in your workstation or what conditions have changed since you left. A couple of seconds can save some grief. js

Garbage Bags

2008-03-27T08:31:00.002-05:00

The picture doesn't do it justice, the Captain had his bag off (for safety), but the team members were under oxygen (Drager BG4 apparatus) with bags secured so they could not see.

Excellent training for low visibility (no-vis). This time we went into real smoke (no pictures obviously). Was a good trip. js

Basic Underground Mine Rescue Course

2008-03-23T17:21:00.002-05:00

Just completed a course here at the Comaplex property outside of Rankin Inlet Nunavut Canada, conducting refresher training for the rest of their crew. Home Wednesday, heck of a way to spend Easter. Will post pictures when I have better service. js

Safety Tip of the Month

2008-03-04T18:58:00.003-06:00

Learn from other people's mistakes, you won't live long enough to make all of them yourself. js

Things are picking up

2008-02-28T16:10:00.001-06:00

Hopefully I will be able to post some pictures of different events from my past experiences or current activities. Time is master of events. js

Partnership

2008-02-14T14:09:00.000-06:00

This blog is to advertise and record my wife's and my partnership in business. With the Lord's help this will enable to maintain our lifestyle and serve Him. js