b'Section 21 of the OHSA to assist and advise the Minister ofIts no secret that falls continue to rise, and currently, there seems Labour. These are the Provincial Labour-Management Healthto be a culture of acceptance when a workplace incident or fatality and Safety Committee (PLMHSC)Construction and theoccurs. We need to change this culture. We need to change it so that Provincial Labour-Management Safety Committee (PLMSC) for incidents and fatalities, in any sector or industry, we have more Utilities. In addition, the Labour-Management Network includespeople speaking out about workplace hazards and the improvements eight Fleet Safety Councils.that need to be made at the company level, the industry level and the As for my background, Im a graduate of Conestoga Collegesprovincial level. Occupational Health and Safety Program, and Ive been withWe have to change the culture so that more people are awareso IHSA for over 15 years. Improving the health and safety culturethat workplace incidents and fatalities are not buried on the third in Ontario is a cause that motivates me in both my professionalpage of a newspaper and easily forgotten. and personal life every day.What concerns me is that there doesnt seem to be the priority Q: What role doindustry partners, such as SIAC, play inthat there needs to be for awareness. Health and safety is the helping the IHSA improve workplacesafety? responsibility of all workplace parties, from the workers on the A: Over 800 volunteers from our industry partners make upjob every day to the business owners who are responsible for all IHSAs Labour-Management Network and committees. Becauseworkplace operations, however big or small. Absolutely everyone they are a direct connection to our industries, we can consultneeds to participate in keeping each other safe, and speak out when with them and work together to collectively resolve sector- they see unsafe practices and concerns. specific health and safety issues. IHSA could not do our crucialI challenge everyone to make that a resolution for 2019, and work without the involvement and expertise of industry partnerstogether we will be able to improve the safety culture in Ontario. who know the challenges and opportunities at ground level. When we have people at the table representing both labour and management from our industries, we can resolve the most pressing issues in an open and transparent way for the benefit ofeveryone. Q: What are theIHSAs main priorities for 2019, specifically relating to the scaffold andaccess industry?A: IHSAs priority in 2019 is to continue to be Ontarios1-877-773-5913trusted health and safety resource for effective sector-specific1-877-773-5913engagement, education, products and services. martinssafetytraining.commartinssafetytraining.commark@martinssafetytraining.commark@martinssafetytraining.comTo help IHSA strengthen and maintain a leading voice on health and safety matters in Ontario, we are starting a new ScaffoldingMartinsand Access Equipment Sector Committee in 2019. The goal of this new sector committee is to work collectively and collaboratively on behalf of the industry to develop best practices and to solve and resolve safety issues facing the access industry. The committee will work to proactively address emerging issues with the Ministry of Labour (MOL), IHSA, the Section 21 Committee and other sector partners, and will raise matters of importance on the industrys behalf.This committee will be made up of 12 members and will be an equal balance of management and labour. I believe that thisTrainingsector committee will be an important voice for the industry,Trainingand IHSA looks forward to providing updates as the committeeWe provide the following training & more:moves forward. We provide the following training & more: Swing Stage (SAE) User & Installer Course Working At HeightsApproved As Required Swing Stage (SAE) User & Installer CourseQ: What do you seeas the most important safety issues Man Lift (Elevated Work Platform) Working At Heights - Approved As Requiredfacing the scaffold and access industry, aswell as construction ForkliftAll Typesas awhole?Man Lift (Elevated Work Platforms) First AidEmergency & Standard WHMIS 2015 (GHS) Forklift - All TypesA: For me, falls continue to be one of the most significant safety First Aid - Emergency & Standardissues, not just for the scaffold and access industry, but for all WHMIS 2015 (GHS)ofOntario. ACCESS CANADA SPRING 201919'