WSN to go 'one step further' with training for workers
Workplace Safety North (WSN) has received approval from Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer (CPO) to provide an in-depth study of lockout/tagout. Recently, the organization revealed that inadequate lockout (resulting in injury) was among the biggest concerns in the corrugating sector.
In April 2022, eight subject matter experts hailing from Ontario’s corrugating industry met virtually for a workplace risk assessment and to discuss the top issues plaguing the sector. WSN, a not-for-profit health and safety association, now wants to follow up this assessment with a deeper dive into the improper lockout of machines.
The CPO-approved study will include two parts, firstly a workplace assessment document which will be done by the organization’s field staff.
“We’re looking forward to that,” says Tom Welton, Director of Prevention Services and Education Programs at Workplace Safety North. He says that the organization is involving a number of subject matter experts who are hoping to “come up with some innovative and new approaches to assist the industry is addressing these concerns and ultimately eliminating injuries.”
The second part will focus on training for individuals. “In this case, here, we'll be looking at developing some training to assist industry and really focusing on this concern,” says Welton. “That was a weakness identified in relation to inadequate lockout,” he says, “the training that workers were getting was not necessarily always from well-experienced workers due to [high job] turnover.”
Ultimately, Welton says that hopefully the study will help make proper information available to the industry, and WSN can “assist the industry in taking this one step further.”
