[shot of Supervisor working on a construction site] [TITLE: Construction Project Supervisors]
Jullie Ritchie: My name is Jullie Ritchie. I'm a Construction Inspector with the Ministry
of Labour out of the Western Region.
Mike Chappell: My name's Mike Chappell. I'm the Provincial Coordinator of Construction
Health and Safety for the Province of Ontario Ministry of Labour.
JR: Today, we're at the Carpenters' Local 27 Training Centre to talk about what we look
for on a construction project with a specific focus on the role of the supervisor.
MC: The construction supervisor is the key person to make safety happen in a construction
project. They're there at the beginning, from the first worker until the last worker leaves.
They order the material, they ensure that safety materials are on site, that safe procedures
are carried out, they delegate and they make sure that things happen.
JR: A typical construction site will have many workers on it, a supervisor who is in
charge of it. Each site is different. It depends on the sector of construction that you're
involved in and the activity that is going on on that day.
JR: It can include high rises, work down below, there could be machinery moving around on
the job site. There could be lots of people moving around and lots of activity where people
are actually physically doing the work on the project.
Sound-up: Inspector: Can I see a copy of your Notice
of Project please? Supervisor: Yes.
MC: In Ontario, it's required to notify the Ministry of Labour when a project is starting.
This can done on a paper form which is submitted to the Ministry of Labour, either by mail
or by fax, or it can be submitted electronically through an electronic Notice of Project.
[sound-up] JR: My name is Jullie Ritchie. I'm a Ministry of Labour Inspector.
JR: Upon arriving at a construction project, we usually first introduce ourselves to the
Supervisor, who then gives us some idea of what's happening on a project.
Sound-up: JR: How many workers do you have here at the
project today? Worker: 18 today.
JR: We will also speak to the worker representative or the Joint Health & Safety Committee member
on the project as well.
JR: And how many trades are at this location? Worker: Approximately five.
JR: When talking to the supervisor, he can identify to us, as well, what activities are
happening so that we have a better idea of what's actually happening on the project,
what training is involved with the workers that are there, what tools they're using,
what hazards they have on the project.
MC: The number one contravention on construction projects in Ontario is really related to personal
protective equipment, so failure to wear hard hats, failure to wear safety shoes, failure
to wear ear protection, eye protection. It's one of the most simple things that you can
control in a construction project but we see workers not wearing them all of the time.
[construction workers showcasing safety equipment]
JR: A construction supervisor is responsible for supervising the job site at all times
or appointing a competent person in their absence.
MC: Part of a supervisor's duty is to prepare an emergency plan and make sure that workers
know where it is.
[sound-up] JR: And your emergency procedures are posted here as well?
Worker: Right here.
MC: Often this is the site trailer. It could be a message board. It could be anything like
that but it has to be there. A safety procedure, emergency plan that says "Call 9-1-1" is not
going to be adequate from the Ministry of Labour's perspective.
JR: Workers also have to know how to implement that emergency plan.
JR: Construction supervisors must ensure that they are competent and that they are knowledgeable
about the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the construction regulations.
[construction worker operates a SkyJack lift]
JR: Supervisors must also ensure that inspections are completed and documented on a regular basis.
JR: They have to be knowledgeable about overhead power lines, underground utilities that are
there and ensuring that they have locates completed for the project in the area that
they would be working in.
JR: They are also responsible for inspecting buildings, structures, access and egress and
identifying hazards.
Sound-up Inspector: Inspector: Guard-railed off…
MC: Falls represent the single, most serious hazards that exist in construction sites in
the province of Ontario. A guardrail system must be installed when work is carried out
and workers may fall 2.4 metres or more. And what happens in construction projects is often
guardrail systems are inadequate. They're not built according to specification or they're
taken down temporarily to load material and equipment. They're not re-erected.
JR: Housekeeping is important to ensure that workers aren't exposed to tripping hazards
and to material falling onto them or any dangers associated with those materials that are lying around.
JR: Supervisors have a crucial role on a project to ensure that the health and safety of workers is maintained.
MC: Unless the project supervisor is focused on safety as well as production, safety will
not happen on a construction project.
JR: If you would like further information, please visit the following websites.
[URL: www.ontario.ca/constructionsafety or www.ontario.ca/labour or www.ihsa.ca]