Below are the confirmed speakers for 2010 - speaker biographies are available by clicking on the BIO clip to the right of the speaker name (a seperate PDF file will open with the BIO information)
OPENING KEYNOTE
Michael Pinball Clemons
Toronto Argonauts
ALL HEART
It is impossible to overstate just how dynamic, how energizing Michael Clemons is on stage. Contrasting boundless "pinball"-like energy with moments of quiet dignity, he engages audience members, literally, to deliver an unforgettable, often emotional speech. One of the most in-demand speakers in Canada, he talks with unabashed passion about teamwork, about the potential in each of us to achieve anything we set our minds to, and about putting your heart -- fully -- into everything you do.
Session 102
Dealing with Substance Abuse in the Workplace: "It's Our Business"
.....Ron Beach, Alberta Health Services
Alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use costs the Alberta economy an estimated $4.4 billion per year in health-care expenses, law enforcement costs and productivity losses. It also costs lives. If left untreated, substance use and gambling problems in the workplace contribute to:
- unsafe work practices, accidents and increased risk of injury
- depression, stress, reduced morale and other emotional problems
- increased absenteeism, higher workers' compensation and insurance costs
- alcohol- and drug-related illness
Session 103
First Aid and the Transportation of Casualties
.....Kolby Walters, St. John Ambulance
This presentation will focus on the changes in the OH&S regulations regarding transportation of casualties from a work site. Emergency Response Plans require information on when First Aiders should transport casualties themselves or wait for the ambulance service. This session reviews factors to consider in making these decisions.
Session 104
Responding to the Media Regarding On-Site Incidents
.....Grant Ainsley, Grant Ainsley Inc.
Moments after you take a call on your cell phone from a member of your team who tells you about an incident that has badly injured one of your workers on the job, your office phone rings and it’s somebody from the news media who wants to talk to you about it. What do you say? How do you handle the situation? How do you keep your cool?
Find out the answers to these questions and many more in a session led by Grant Ainsley, who spent 15 years in the media and now presents media training sessions for organizations across Canada.
Session 105
Alberta's Traffic Safety Plan: Saving Lives on Alberta's Roads
.....Dale Friedel, Office of Traffic Safety & ACICR
The Alberta Traffic Safety Plan: Saving Lives on Alberta’s Roads (Traffic Safety Plan) is a comprehensive strategy designed to reduce traffic-related deaths and injuries in the province. It outlines key initiatives to help prevent motor vehicle collisions, build safer roads, establish and enforce traffic laws, and better educate all Albertans about traffic safety. This presentation will provide information on the implementation of the Alberta Traffic Safety Plan and the Community Mobilization Strategy. The presentation will also include additional traffic safety information and available resources pertinent to health and safety professionals.
SESSION OUTLINES - TUESDAY
Blockbuster Session 201
The Evolution of Due Diligence
.....Brian Caruk, Alberta Justice
In the aftermath of recent court decisions, foreseeability has become a more significant consideration in the law of due diligence. Hear what factors are taken into account by crown prosecutors when recommending charges, and when assessing their cases up to, and including, trial. This session will touch upon the important aspects of a health & safety program for due diligence purposes and common misconceptions of what constitutes due diligence.
Blockbuster Session 202
Collisions - Loss vs. Opportunity
.....Rod Davis, The Viscount Group Inc.
‘Collision Investigation Results Can Improve Corporate Transportation Systems’ Mr. R.O. (Rod) Davis, a retired law enforcement officer of 32 years and widely recognized expert in the area of collision investigation/reconstruction and training, will present valuable insights into collision investigations, case management, event data records and similar supporting technologies as well as legal issues associated with collisions. In addition he will provide recommendations for companies to improve their transportation safety systems in an effort to guard against repeat occurrences and improve safety for both the employees and the organization.
Small and large companies across Canada play an incredibly important role in the effort to reduce motor vehicle-related crashes, resulting in injuries and fatalities annually. In the field of corporate transportation safety, very little can be achieved in the absence of a structured and efficient corporate transportation safety system that utilizes company policies, procedures and administrative systems.
In these challenging economic times, it's more important than ever to create and foster strong positive relationships with all employees who operate company vehicles regardless of the fleet size, vehicle classification or the number of vehicle operators. This session will feature information and provide opportunities for discussion on accessing, constructing and managing a safe and effective corporate transportation program in a cost effective manner.
Session 203 FULL DAY WORKSHOP
MORNING - NO LONGER SKATING ON THIN ICE:
USING THE BEST PRACTICE FOR BUILDING AND WORKING SAFELY ON ICE COVERS IN ALBERTA
.....Samuel A. Proskin, EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd.
Most Albertans at one time or another have looked over a frozen stream, river or lake and asked themselves: Is it safe to cross? For the snowmobiler, skier, and driver, a quick decision is usually made by weighing risks against benefits. For an employer with heavy equipment, a quick decision weighing the risks against the benefits is liable to get one of his workers in trouble. Recognizing that there were limited resources available for employers and employees making these decisions, Alberta Employment and Immigration worked with a stakeholder committee to produce Alberta’s
Best Practice for Building and Working Safely on Ice Covers. The Best Practice provides employers and employees with the information and a risk management process to help them make good decisions when considering work on river and lake ice.
The workshop will go through the hazard assessment, elimination and control process adapted for floating ice covers. It will highlight some of the most common hazards associated with ice covers such as ice types, cracks and local conditions. Effective practices for either eliminating or controlling the ice hazards will also be discussed. The workshop will reinforce the learning with examples from typical projects and work through the hazard process for an ice cover scenario. At the conclusion participants should be able to understand how and when to use the Best Practice and where to go for further information.
Dr. Proskin leads EBA’s practice in ice cover engineering and works closely with his geophysical colleagues in using ground penetrating radar for assessing ice cover conditions. He has 11 years experience in advising oil and gas, mining and construction clients on the safe use of ice roads, ice platforms, and winter roads. His projects include the 350 km long Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road that carried 120,000 tonnes in 2009/2010 winter road season. He was a technical consultant on the development of Alberta’s Best Practice for Building and Working Safely on Ice Covers and is part of the technical team developing the Best Practice for Winter Roads for Transportation Association of Canada.
AFTERNOON - HOW TO KEEP YOUR NATURAL INSTINCT FROM KILLING YOU:
ICE WATER IMMERSION, RESCUE AND VEHICLE ESCAPE
.....Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht, University of Manitoba
Expect a full two and a half hours of lifesaving education and entertainment.
We will explore some myths that have resulted in many preventable deaths. This seminar will directly benefit attendees in three possible areas: they might become victims themselves; they might need to provide aid to a victim in their work activities; they might educate others regarding some of these issues. Therefore, the seminar could save your life, and the lives of others.
During the afternoon we will learn the Three Phases of Cold Water Immersion and learn the 1-10-1 Principle (you have 1 minute to control your breathing, 10 minutes of meaningful movement, and 1 hour before becoming unconscious due to hypothermia). We will review the kick-and-pull method to use if you break through the ice.
Vehicle submersions have the highest mortality rate of any type of single-vehicle accident. We will learn that you should forget about using windows and your cell phone. Rather, remember these four words: Seatbelts, Children, Windows, Out.
Finally we will review the contents of our DVD production “The Cold Hard Facts of Winter Roads Safety”.
NOTE - If you register for the FULL CONFERENCE you can choose to attend this workshop in lieu of the regular sessions — at no charge — your choice of morning only, afternoon only or full day .
Session 204
Coconuts or Sharks...Common Errors in Risk Perception and Decision Making
.....Corinne Gediman, Ryder Marsh Gediman
Falling coconuts or shark attacks… Which presents the greatest risk and how does this apply to errors in safety risk perception and decision-making? Learn how to recognize and avoid costly errors in risk perception and decision making, including human error and at-risk employee behaviour.
Session 205
But It's Just Sand...
.....Diane Radnoff, Alberta Employment & Immigration
Silica is one of the most common substances found in most mineral deposits in the world. It is also found in a wide variety of products. The crystalline forms of silica can be very hazardous to health. When inhaled into the lungs, this substance can cause a number of health problems, including silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema. As a result, in 2009, Alberta lowered the Occupational Exposure Limits for crystalline silica. This session will discuss the health effects from exposure to crystalline silica, the basis for the new Occupational Exposure Limit as well as challenges faced by workplaces in complying with the new exposure limit.
Session 206
Zombie Walkers: Are you working among the living dead??
.....Steve Laughlin, CJ&K Training Services
The world is full of zombie walkers. You probably know or work with a few. These are the people that park in the exact parking spot every day. They have the same thing for lunch every day. When they get home from work, they don’t actually remember driving there.
These are the same kinds of employees that cause your OSHA recordable chart to look like the ascent of Everest. These are the ones walking through the facility with their safety glasses on their foreheads and their respirators around their neck.
All this said, change is possible………but it requires change on your part first. You cannot continue to roll out the same safety programs, the same policies, the same posters, the same boring training programs and expect anything but what you continue to get.
This seminar will demonstrate some creative programs, activities, incentives, and concepts that have been initiated by EH&S professionals from companies in a variety of industries throughout the country. We will also welcome any ideas that you may be able to bring to the seminar.
Session 207
The Road More Traveled
.....Rick Gardner, Alberta Sheriff's Department
With many organizations doing projects in both Calgary and Edmonton, Albertans spend a great deal of our working time on the road driving from place to place, meeting to meeting. Highway 2 sees hundreds of vehicles per day, but what are the hazards on the highway when we get behind the wheel? This presentation will discuss the most common types of vehicle accidents and incidents that occur, when they happen and why they occur.
Session 208 - Keynote Panel Discussion
The Changing Face of the Workplace
The workplace of 2010 is very different from the one our parents experienced and even the one we may have starting working in. More and more employers are reevaluating how they work; providing flexible hours or non-traditional workshift, job sharing, increased use of technology and even promoting working from home. Workers are working a variety of workshifts, traveling more (or less) and interacting with their fellow workers less. This session will explore the advantages and challenges to these changes and also how the occupational health and safety legislation applies to this evolving workplace.
Session 209
Crossing Borders: Is Your Company Compliant with OH&S Legislation in BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan?
.....Jennifer Miller, Bennett Jones
.....Lloyd Harmon, Enform
Workplaces on the move are dynamic, challenging and often very rewarding. An organization's operations can grow and extend across provincial or territorial borders across Canada, and even develop into new kinds of work. But it's important to look before you leap. Repeating a business model in a new jurisdiction must be associated with an appreciation that your existing health and safety program will almost certainly not comply with the laws of the new province or territory. Some work is provincially regulated and other work is federally regulated, and identifying which applies can be challenging.
The first step in any successful health and safety program is an understanding of the location and nature of your work. This is the only way to identify what laws apply. Once that critical question is answered, your organization must assess what roles it is playing at its work places and what duties flow from those roles. Do you know which jurisdictions identify a role for a prime contractor, and which do not? Do you know which jurisdictions identify specific responsibility for a supervisor or a contractor?
Among other objectives, this talk will assist owners and employers in understanding contracting responsibilities and how they differ significantly under the occupational health and safety laws of each province, and under the federal laws.
You may be surprised what responsibilities your organization carries and will almost certainly leave this session with an action plan to ensure health and safety excellence wherever you work.
Session 210
Cholesterol and Heart Health Programs in the Workplace
.....Eric Stein, Canadian Occupational Resource Consultants
This presentation outlines the basic health effects of cholesterol, fibre, fats, nutrition and related predictors of heart health. A brief overview of a lipid profile and how cholesterol affects the body will be presented. Followed by what changes workers can make to improve their heart risk factors and reduce their risk of heart attacks or strokes. The final topic will be what organizations can do to assist workers in reducing their risk of heart disease and how health promotion programs can be effective.
Session 211
SOMEDAY is Not a Day of the Week: Step-Wise Strategies for Living in the Present
.....Michelle Cederberg, Live Out Loud Inc.
Someday is a very busy day for many of us. If you regularly think about your goals and plans but rarely get to them maybe it’s time to ask yourself WHY? When the day-to-day schedule gets chaotic and life becomes more about keeping up than it does about moving ahead we put off enjoyable activities, we delay self-care, and procrastination becomes the norm rather than the exception. What have you been putting off lately?
What would help you get to it?
In this enlightening and humorous session Michelle helps you get over the guilt, get to the good things, and live a bigger life. Step away from delay and move your dreams and goals from someday to TODAY.
Session 212
Road Safety At Work Best Practices
.....Dan Clarke, Alberta Employment & Immigration
.....Jeannette Espie, Alberta Transportation
.....Ron Wilson, Alberta Motor Association
In Alberta, someone dies in a traffic incident almost every day and several more are injured. The Road Safety at Work initiative and the Traffic Safety Plan are working to reduce these numbers through this best practice resource. It will help employers and workers understand their requirements to stay safe while driving for work.
SESSION OUTLINES - WEDNESDAY
Blockbuster Session 301
Baby It's Cold Outside: Surviving Cold Water Immersion
.....Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht, University of Manitoba
Vehicle submersions have the highest mortality rate of any type of single-vehicle accident. In this session, participants will learn that you should forget about using windows and your cell phone. You do not have time! Rather, remember these four words: Seatbelts, Children, Windows, Out.
Blockbuster Session 302
Especially for Workplaces on the Move: "How to Build Trust with People You Don't Understand, Don't Connect With, But Still Have to Work With!"
.....Valerie Cade, The Performance Curve International
If you were to ask safety employees what they could change about where they work, 90% would mention an inter‐personal situation that they’ve spent far too much time thinking about! Furthermore, they would add: “And I am not sure what to do about it either!” And yet, you still have to inspire safety!
This inspirational session will help safety professionals want to ‘work through anything with anyone’! This session helps to remove defensiveness with understanding through humour, relevant examples and creates the ability for participants at all levels to be able to approach others with ease. You will be able to narrow the inter‐personal gaps between co‐workers and figure out ‘why do they do what they do’ in order to create a respectful workplace for all. Bottom line: You will be able to influence safety with ease!
Session 303
Respect In The Workplace
.....Bruce Kent, Respect Group Inc.
Respect in the Workplace has many different faces. The most frequent occurrences of disrespect in the workplace are: defamation, harassment and bullying. Disrespect is personal. Disrespect hurts.
Session 304
Investing in Health & Safety
.....Ken Vertz, Workers' Compensation Board of Alberta
How to develop a business case for injury prevention and disability management initiatives by demonstrating the impact on WCB premiums.
Session 305
OH&S Investigation Process
.....Casey Leahey, Alberta Employment & Immigration
Participants in this session will get an overview of the investigation process that is typically conducted by OH&S when they respond to a serious incident or a fatality.
The session will be given by Casey Leahey, a Lead investigator with OH&S who has been with the department for 14 years. Initially trained in power engineering, Casey has a background in the fire service and the news media; in addition Casey worked as a health and safety officer in both the pulp & paper and health care industries before joining OH&S. Casey was the lead investigator on a file where both criminal and regulatory charges were initiated as a result of an incident that took place 10 years ago, long before Bill C- 45 was proclaimed into law. Come and hear this session which will offer participants an interesting perspective.
Session 306
Mentoring Company Drivers
.....Ron Wilson, Alberta Motor Association
This informative presentation will explain why it is so important for organizations to have some type of driver mentoring program in place. The session will address how to approach mentoring new company drivers.
Mentoring Company Drivers will also include how to pick the proper people in your organization to mentor your company drivers. The presentation will cover what to look for when choosing a mentor, as well as the types of skills and qualifications someone mentoring a company driver should have.
Session 307
Courageous Dialogue
.....Charmaine Hammond, Hammond International Inc.
How many times have you cringed at the thought of having to confront a person’s difficult behaviours? Wondered if you avoid the person the situation would improve? Pass the situation along to someone else? Drop hints and hope they read between the lines?
Dealing with people can often be the most challenging aspect of work and being on teams. The reality is we don’t always see eye to eye with everyone and dealing with difficult situations and behaviours is uncomfortable for many. Success at difficult conversations begins with a willingness to pursue the courageous dialogue, courageous dialogue techniques, and a model to shift from conflict to a conversation. When communication is effective and timely, safety in the workplace is maximized.
Discover five tools for courageous dialogue, including a courageous dialogue model, five keys to dealing with difficult people and the VALUE method of communication to respond with skill and confidence.
Session 308
Practical Applications for Biohazard Containment
.....Craig Houghton, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
This session will review the importance and value of biocontainment activities and review the principles of biocontainment zoning We will also discuss the steps involved in planning work on infected premises and the safety considerations for working in a biohazard contaminated environment.
Factors affecting selection and use of Personal Protective Equipment will be reviewed.Session 309
Partnerships News!
.....Ian Hooper, Alberta Employment & Immigration
Partnerships is a non-regulatory, province-wide prevention program sponsored co-operatively by government, labour, and industry. Together we encourage and assist employers with the implementation of health and safety management systems at their work sites.
Partnerships use a strategic approach to program development in an effort to meet the emerging needs of industry and government. Through this process, and consultation with stakeholders, feedback has been provided toward program direction.
This session will provide an overview of the Partnerships program, and an update of new initiatives.
Session 310
Driven to Distraction
.....Allison Smiley, Human Factors North Inc.
Evolving technology, from CD players to infotainment systems, presents many distracting temptations to drivers. These are in addition to the traditional distractions of talking to passengers, eating and drinking or simply daydreaming about an upcoming event. This talk will examine why drivers engage in such activities, how they can lead to crashes, the most frequent and the most risky distractions in which drivers engage, the effects of distraction on driver behaviour and potential countermeasures to reduce crashes resulting from distraction.
CLOSING KEYNOTE
Meg Soper
GET CONNECTED AND STAY PLUGGED IN
This lighthearted interactive presentation focuses on effective communication, conflict management and dealing with difficult people. Develop strategies to enhance relationships on both a personal and professional level. Through laughter and interactive energy people will come away with a better understanding of each other’s challenges and unique qualities. You will leave armed with practical strategies geared towards a healthier, happier and more productive workplace environment.