SAFETY

Focus on Safety

Working safely is a core value for Earth Fire Energy and we are proud of our safety record. 

Safety is everyone’s responsibility and we are all tasked at proactively identifying hazards and controlling risks. 

We have prepared practical health and safety policies which we review during our monthly safety meetings. 

We are registered and have excellent safey ratings with several safety pre-qualification companies, including: 

  • ISNetworld
  • Comply Works
  • Browz

We take safety seriously, and it is evident in the number of projects that our team has successfully completed. 

Learn about our successful projects

COVID-19 SAFETY PLAN

This safety plan documents the steps Earth Fire Energy has taken to be in compliance with the COVID-19 safety requirements. Our plan follows WorkSafeBC’s six-step process as outlined below. By Order of the Provincial Health Officer, dated May 14 2020, employers are required to post a copy of their COVID-19 Safety Plan on their website and at the workplace. This plan is readily available for review by workers, as well as visitors, contractors, suppliers, and any other person who could be providing services at our workplace.

STEP 1 – Assess the risks at the workplace

To assess the risk of transmission of Covid-19, we have consulted:

  • Information about COVID-19 as offered by the Public Health Authorities
  • Our workers and managers
  • Our Joint Health and Safety Committee

We have identified the areas, jobs, and tasks that may present a risk of transmission of COVID-19. We also determined who could be at risk of exposure, including workers, contractors, suppliers, and the public.

With this in mind, we took these three steps:

  • Held safety meetings with all workers where COVID-19 risks and control measures were outlined
  • Updated our existing, documented risk assessments to include COVID-19 (Mitigation Policy)
  • Developed COVID-19 Safety Plan

STEPS 2 & 3 – Implement control measures, including policies, procedures and protocols to reduce the risks

To determine what control measures are required, we have consulted the following:

  • The Hierarchy of Controls (Elimination, Substitution, Engineering, Administration & PPE)
  • Our workers and managers
  • Our Joint Health and Safety Committee
  • Guidance and industry-specfic information from provincial health authorities

The control measures we have identified as necessary for our facility are listed in our documented risk assessment (Mitigation Policy) as indicated in Step 1. Based on that assessment, with reference to the above resources, we have implemented necessary controls and developed/updated the following procedures and protocols:

  • Enhanced Cleaning protocol for common areas
  • Hand hygiene procedures
  • Reporting symptoms in the workplace
  • Visitor’s requirements
  • Ergonomics policy
  • Working alone procedures
  • Pre-Visit Questionnaire
  • Guideline for travel
  • Long Distance Travel Guidelines
  • Field Visit Procedures
  • PPE Program

Managers and employees have been made aware of these updates and revisions.

STEP 4 – Develop communication plans and training

To ensure workers, contractors and visitors know how to stay safe at our workplace, we have:

  • Developed plans to communicate new and updated policies to all of our employees.
  • Conducted a training needs assessment and updated our training to include training on procedures and protocols.
  • Posted awareness posters throughout our workplace.
  • Posted occupancy limit signage throughout our workplace.
  • Chosen the use of virtual meeting tools and/or phone calls in lieu of in-person meetings or training sessions, whenever possible. However, all required control measures, such as physical distancing and wearing masks, must be in place if communication or training must take place in person.
  • Trained Managers on monitoring workers and enforcing policies/procedures/protocols.

STEP 5 – Monitor our workplace and update our plans as needed

As the pandemic situation changes, we are doing the following to monitor changes in our operations and workplace(s) to ensure that control measures are effectively providing the expected level of protection and prevention.

  • Workers are aware of how to report workplace hazards.
  • Workers are aware of how to report symptoms of COVID-19.
  •  We review all workplace inspections to check for new areas/jobs/tasks of concern.
  • We audit our cleaning and hygiene practices and protocols.
  • We have established a corrective action process (i.e. corrective action log or other method to monitor the completion of corrective actions).
  • We consult with our Joint Health and Safety Committee.
  • We update our policies/procedures/protocols accordingly.
  • We re-assess communication and training needs accordingly.

STEP 6 – Assess and address risks from resuming operations or getting back to normal

Should areas within our operations or workplace cease normal operation during this pandemic and are re-started or re-occupied, we will complete the following:

  • Review our existing risk assessments for the jobs and affected areas. We have considered the effects of the control measures discussed in this Plan on existing safeguards and controls and revised our risk assessments accordingly.
  • Consult with our Joint Health and Safety Committee.
  • Ensure all work areas have been cleaned and inspected before resuming operations.
  • Re-assess communication and training needs accordingly.
  • Communicated plans to workers before they return.