GE 101 An Engineer’s Role in

Occupational Health & Safety and Sustainability & Climate Change

Week 12

November 25, 2010

Attendance Record: Press button 1/A

1. 1/A

Channel Changing Instructions (ONLY IF YOU CHANGED CHANNELS SINCE LAST CLASS THEN DO THIS FIRST!)

Press and release the "GO" button.

While the light is flashing red and green, enter the channel code: 71

The light will flash orange each time you successfully enter a number for the channel code

After the channel code is entered, press and release the "GO" button.

The light should flash green to confirm.

Then press button ‘1/A’

20(1) All members and holders of temporary licences shall recognize this code as a set of enduring principles guiding their conduct and way of life and shall conduct themselves in an honourable and ethical manner, upholding the values of truth, honesty and trustworthiness, and shall safeguard human life and welfare and the environment.

APEGS Bylaws – Professional Conduct

http://www.apegs.sk.ca/

(2) Without restricting the generality of subsection (1), members and licensees shall: (a) hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and the protection of the environment and promote health and safety within the workplace;

APEGS Bylaws – Professional Conduct

http://www.apegs.sk.ca/

SAFETY

Community Workplace

Legal context of workplace safety: Federal

• Nuclear Safety & Control Act

• Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act

• Building Trades Protection Act

• Canadian Environmental Protection Act

• Criminal Code of Canada / Bill C-45

Legal context of workplace safety: Provincial

• Occupational Health and Safety Act (1993) and Regulations (1996)

• Administered by Saskatchewan Labour Occupational Health and Safety Division

Occupational Health & Safety

• Employee Rights

– Right to know…job hazards

– Right to refuse…imminently dangerous tasks

– Right to participate…in the safety process

Occupational Health & Safety

• Employer Responsibilities – Identify and eliminate hazards

– Assign tasks and supervise

– Provide instruction and training

– Ensure health, safety and welfare of employees

– Provide suitable tools, equipment and supplies

– Provide personal protective equipment

– Ensure the safety of employees as much as is reasonably practicable

Occupational Health & Safety

• Supervisor Responsibilities

– Ensure that employer responsibilities are met

– Facilitate safety processes

“Supervisor” is defined as anyone that directs the work of another person

Occupational Health & Safety

• Employee Responsibilities

– Receive and apply instruction and training

–Work safely and responsibly

– Participate in the safety process

– Ensure that supervisors are aware of safety issues

– Ensure they use the safety processes to protect themselves and co-workers

Consequences

• Consequences of failure to meet expectations of legislation:

– OH&S Act and Regs: Fines up $300,000

– Criminal Code of Canada (Bill C-45): Criminal Prosecution including prison terms.

Due Diligence Saskatchewan OHS Act (1993) (3)(a):

“Every employer shall ensure, insofar as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare at work of all of the employer’s workers”

• Strict liability legislation (reverse onus)

— Onus is on the accused to prove that they did everything reasonably practicable to prevent harm

— Due diligence defense

Due Diligence

• Due diligence is demonstrated by your actions before an incident occurs, not afterwards.

• Did you do everything reasonably practicable to prevent the incident from occurring? – “Forseeability” – could a reasonable person predict

the incident?

– “Preventability” – was there an opportunity to prevent the incident?

– “Control” – who was the responsible person who could have prevented the incident?

Three Pillars of Safety Management

• Identify Hazards

• Manage Hazards

• Document management of hazards – Due Diligence File

An Example: Westray Coal Mine

• Coal mining has been an integral part of Pictou County (Nova Scotia) history since the first commercial mine opened in Stellarton in 1807, to the closing of the Drummond mine in Westville in 1974. On September 11, 1991 Westray opened a new mine in Plymouth.

• At 5:20 am on May 9, 1992 after only eight months of operation, an explosion ripped through the mine killing 26 men who were underground at the time.

Westray Mine Site - Before

Westray Mine Site - After

Westray Mine Site - After

Westray Aftermath

• “Worker safety not my responsibility, says ex-Westray engineer” (newspaper headline during Westray trial) – This, to put it bluntly, is absolutely wrong.

Westray Aftermath

• Westray was a process safety incident, not only OH&S.

• Management system deficiencies were at the core.

• Criminal Prosecution attempts failed …

– Thus, Bill C-45 (2003) was created to amend the Criminal Code of Canada to hold managers (ENGINEERS) criminally accountable!!

One clause from Bill C-45

217.1 Every one who undertakes, or has the authority, to direct how another person does work or performs a task is under a legal duty to take reasonable steps to prevent bodily harm to that person, or any other person, arising from that work or task.

Sustainability and the Environment

“Professional engineers are committed to

environmental protection and

safeguarding the well-being of the public.”

National Guideline on Environment and Sustainability (CCPE, 2006); p13

Image credit to 2005 Saskatoon Public Schools and Saskatoon Catholic Schools. http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/de/stoon100pics/photogallery/index.htm

Attributes that students graduating in engineering programs must have

1. Knowledge Base for Engineering

2. Problem Analysis

3. Investigation

4. Design

5. Use of Engineering Tools

6. Individual and Teamwork

7. Communication

8. Professionalism

9. Impact on Society and the Environment

10. Ethics and Equity

11. Engineering Economics and Project Management

12. Life Long Learning

National Guideline on Environment and Sustainability (CCPE, 2006)

Prepared by Canadian Engineering Qualifications Board Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

http://www.engineerscanada.ca/e/files/guideline_enviro_with.pdf

“The philosophy of this guideline is to encourage

sustainable environmental plans that are anticipatory

and preventative, rather than reactive. It would be

prudent for professional engineers to strive to inform,

advise, and counsel the employer, client or owner as to

the implications of possible changes in standards and

expectations.”

Environmental Guidelines for Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (2000)

“The viability of ecosystems must be sustained to ensure that the well-being of future generations is not compromised. Sustainability integrates a viable economy, protection of the environment and social well-being to allow these systems to be maintained indefinitely.” 1. Knowledge and Awareness 2. Cooperation and Communication 3. Integration of Environment and Sustainability 4. Environmental Responsibility and Leadership

http://www.apegs.sk.ca/

Professional Engineers: 1. Should develop and maintain a reasonable knowledge

of environmental and sustainable issues related to their area of expertise.

2. Should use expertise of others in areas where the engineer’s knowledge is not adequate.

3. Should apply professional and responsible judgment in their decisions.

4. Should ensure that environmental planning and management is integrated into all activities which are likely to have any adverse effects.

National Guideline on Environment and Sustainability (CCPE, 2006)

Professional Engineers:

5. Should include costs of environmental protection when evaluating economic viability.

6. Should consider full life-cycle assessment to determine the benefits and costs of additional environmental stewardship.

7. Should engage and solicit input from stakeholders in an open manner.

8. Should comply with regulatory requirements and endeavor to exceed them.

National Guideline on Environment and Sustainability (CCPE, 2006)

Deepwater Horizon

• At 9:45 PM, April 20, 2010 the Deepwater Horizon, an off-shore, deep water drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, experience a blowout and explosion killing 11 workers.

• Attempts to activate the blowout preventer failed.

• It burned for 36 hours before sinking. Oil leaked into the Gulf for months.

Deepwater Horizon

Preventable? What are the repercussions? Who’s responsible?

Next week …

Student Survival Skills II: Exams and what happens afterwards …