CONSTRUCTION SAFETY OFFICER TRAINING

COURSE GOALS and LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Course Goals

This course is an introduction to Occupational Health and Safety. The learning objectives cover the fundamental elements of health and safety management systems, hazard recognition, assessment, and control. It covers safety legislation and the requirements of a safety program: inspections, accident investigations, worker participation, training, and effective communications. The course applies to industry managers, supervisors, and individuals who wish to pursue a career in Occupational Health and Safety.

The coursequalifies the successful participant to apply for ASTTBC certification as a Construction Safety Officer and gain experience on a construction site. The course is eligible for transfer credits to BCIT Certificate of OH&S, BCCSA Construction Safety Specialist (CSS) designation,and is aligned with the competency areas required to attain the Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designation.

Course Description

Construction Safety Office (CSO) trainingis divided into two one–week courses each with unique goals and learning objectives. The first week of the training is designed for the Trade Safety Coordinator, the second week is designed to serve the safety requirements of the Prime Contractor on a multi-employer construction site.

1)CSO Week # 1: Trade Safety Coordinator (TSC)

The first level provides the participant with the knowledge and ability to perform the duties of a Trade Safety coordinator (TSC)[1] The course examines the various authorities and legislation governing construction sites. Included are: Vancouver Building Bylaw, Workers Compensation Act, Occupational Health & Safety Regulation, National Fire Code to name a few. Responsibilities of all parties are discussed and prevention activities to meet the duties of responsible persons are explained, namely: Health and Safety Programs, conducting risk assessments, writing safe work procedures, instructing and training, doing site inspections, managing injury reporting, and leading accident investigations.

2)CSO Week # 2 Construction Safety Officer Training

The second level provides the participant with the knowledge and ability to perform the job of a Construction Safety Officer[2] (CSO). The participant must have successfully completed the first week of training prior to enrolling in the CSO second week of training. Specific construction hazards are discussed in detail. Included are: Confined space entry, lockout, scaffolding, rigging, high voltage clearance, excavations, fall protection, concrete construction, electrical safety, cranes and hoists, traffic control and Emergency planning.

Communication skills are highlighted in this course. The participant will learn and practice enhanced ability to record, track, and communicate required statistics and due diligence evidence to protect the interest of the prime contractor. The participant will be able to record site activities and produce reports capable of tracking: person-hours, injury statistics, site orientations, accident investigations, meeting minutes, and risk assessments.

The participant will also become familiar with best practice protocols for emergency response following the unfortunate event of a site fatality.

CSO Week #1 (TSC)Learning Objectives

Week # 1 (5 days)

1)Describe the laws that govern the construction industry

2)Explain the safety duties and responsibilities of the various personnel on a construction site

  • Responsibility of the Owner, Prime Contractor, Employer, Supervisor, and Worker (including the worker’s right and responsibility to Refuse)
  • Right to refuse procedure
  • Overview of TSC and CSO positions and their responsibilities

3)Demonstrate an understanding of the components of a Construction Site Safety Plan

4)Describe the Authority of WorksafeBC and other governing bodies that may play a role on a construction site.

  • Workers Compensation Act (WCA)
  • WHMIS
  • How to use the Occupational Health & Safety Regulation (OHSR)
  • Parts of the OHSR that pertain to Construction
  • Compliance activities of WorksafeBC
  • Electrical Power authorities
  • Federal agencies and applicable laws

5)Explain the defense of Due Diligence

  • History of due diligence defense
  • Definition of Due diligence
  • The 11 Deadly Sins and their consequences

6)Describe the components of a Health and Safety Program

  • Overview of the Fundamental elements of a health and safety program
  • Hazard identification and Risk assessment
  • Hierarchy of controls
  • Writing safe work procedures
  • Job analysis

7)Explain the requirements of Worker training and Participation

  • Safety Committee Roles and Responsibilities
  • Worker orientation
  • Supervisor training

8)Describe how to conduct Worksite Inspections

9)Explain the purpose and process of Accident Investigations and Injury Reporting

  • Injury reporting Procedures
  • Accident Investigation: preparing, procedure, analyzing root cause, making recommendations, and report writing

CSO Week # 2Learning Objectives

Week # 2 (5 days) is divided into three distinct areas.

ACommunication

1)Describe the accountabilities (due diligence requirements) of the prime contractor

  • Overview of PC duties and accountabilities
  • Owner /PC Agreement
  • List the reports required by the prime contractor
  • Describe the components of the various reports
  • Demonstrate how to calculate the incident and severity rate
  • Site orientation process
  • Site Control (whose on first?)

2)Demonstrate how to manage safety documentation

3)Demonstrate the ability to write a formal Investigation Report

BPlanning

1)Assess the requirements of Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning

  • First aid assessment of service and equipment
  • Evacuation Planning
  • Critical Incident Response Planning

2)Assess the requirements of site conduct and site access protocols

  • Personal Protective Equipment Program
  • Check-in protocols
  • Safe access (20.04)
  • Fills and stockpiles (20.14)

3)Asses the compliance level of sub-contractor safety programs (audit)

  • Be familiar with the various audit documents for construction
  • Bid process requirements for sub-trades

4)Chemical Exposure Planning

  • Apply the requirements of various chemical control systems for designated substances

5)Traffic Control Planning

CHazard Identification and Control

1)Excavation and shoring

  • Determine the general requirements for excavation and shoring

2)Concrete Construction

  • Describe the general requirements for Form work and falsework
  • DescribeConcrete Pre-stressing and Post-tensioning
  • Explain the general requirements for Concrete pumping

3)Fall Protection

  • Understand the requirements for controlling the risk of fall from heights
  • Explain the fall protection hierarchy
  • Describe the different methods of fall protection and associated equipment
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the use and care of fall protection equipment
  • Guarding Falling objects, floor openings, staircases

4)Confined Space Entry

  • Describe the requirements and safe work procedures for confined space entry

5)Electrical Safety / low voltage

  • Explain the hazards of overhead and underground power lines
  • Explain the requirements and safe work procedures for working in proximity to hi-and low voltage power lines
  • Limits of approach
  • Explain emergency procedures for power line contact

6)Lockout

  • Define and describe the different types of hazardous energy
  • Determine the requirements for lockout

7)Scaffolding, Ladders, swing stages, elevating work platforms

  • Explain the different types of ladders and their safe use
  • Describe safe work procedures for erecting and using scaffolding
  • Describe the requirements for the safe operation of elevating workplatforms

8)Cranes Hoists and Lifts

  • Explain the general requirements for crane safety management
  • Explain the characteristics of safe Equipment operation of: mobile cranes, tower cranes, material hoists
  • Explain the hazards of rigging and the riggers responsibilities

[1] Definition: Vancouver Building Bylaw Subsection 1.3.2

[2] Definition: Vancouver Building Bylaw Subsection 1.3.2