NAOSH Week takes place from May 6th to 12th, 2012. The CMHDS is a proud supporter and is helping kick off the event with the 15th Annual BC Championship Forklift Rally on Saturday May 5th, 2012. To find out more about NAOSH Week visit www.naosh.ca or read on . . .

About NAOSH Week

The success of NAOSH Week is rooted in a community-based approach. Across the country, NAOSH Week events and activities are coordinated by local, provincial and/or regional committees, comprised primarily of volunteers, who share a focus and vision of safer workplaces and communities. Partnerships with government, business, suppliers, CSSE Chapters, community health organizations and other safety groups provide the support, resources and network necessary to manage the NAOSH Week plans.

History of NAOSH Week

NAOSH Week – North American Occupational Safety and Health Week – was first launched in June 1997, marked by an agreement between Canada, the United States and Mexico. CSSE’s Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Week (COHS) had been observed for ten years previously (1986-1996). During the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) talks between the governments of Mexico, United States, and Canada, workplace safety within the boundaries of all three nations was discussed by government labour department representatives. Canada’s representative at these talks was familiar with Canada’s COHS Week and suggested to his Mexican and American counterparts that their countries may wish to become involved in a similar endeavor.

Subsequently, CSSE was approached for permission and support to expand the COHS Week format and experience to Mexico and the United States. After many meetings between Labour Canada and the CSSE COHS Committee in 1995, the proposal to expand the COHS format into the North American arena was formalized with the CSSE Board of Directors at their spring 1996 meeting. It was agreed that CSSE would adopt the North American concept and implement it in place of the Canadian Week. Labour Canada agreed to ensure that CSSE was the officially recognized safety organization responsible for NAOSH Week. Labour Canada would also play the lead political role for North America for three years, after which there would be a review. CSSE was responsible for all management, marketing, policy, administration, etc. related to NAOSH Week, and was deemed the proprietor and governing body.

In September 1996, the agreement was taken to the NAFTA meeting and all parties agreed to the proposal. NAOSH Week was established. NAOSH Week was and implemented under this agreement between 1997 and 2000.

Since 2000, the responsibility and management of NAOSH Week has continued under CSSE’s leadership. Partnering with the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety (CCOHS), and the Labour Program of Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC), and Threads of Life. CSSE works hard to promote and encourage the goals of NAOSH. Along with the efforts of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), NAOSH Week continues to be a truly continent-wide event.

We are sorry to report on the passing of Richard E. Higgins recently. Dick was the force behind the U.S. Open Forklift Rodeo, an event that under his leadership had become international in scope.

John Gilder, General Manager of the B.C. Championship Forklift Rally said “While I only knew Dick by reputation, I have followed the U.S. Open Forklift Rodeo for years and had hoped to one day attend the event and meet him. Dick was a leader in the forklift competition community and will be missed.”

In June 2000, he established the Higgins Group. He focused on providing forklift operator training, creation of multiple competitive forklift rodeos in US and foreign locations and giving expert-witness testimony about forklift safety.

He was a founding member and the first chairman of the Springfield-Clark County Safety Council in 1994. He was instrumental in 1995 in starting a local forklift rodeo that developed into the widely recognised US Open Forklift Rodeo & Safety Expo, which ran until 2010.

Higgins developed and marketed a 300-page instructional manual regarding forklift rodeo course layouts, possible individual and team events and pre-competition promotion.

(Portions of this post are sourced from an article originally reported by Forkliftaction.com – click here to view the original article).

Attend to find out how you can achieve your cash back incentive each year for being a safe company through COR.

WorkSafeBC is partnering with FIOSA-MIOSA Safety Alliance of BC and the CMHDS to present a free half-day training session designed specifically for the warehousing sector. The session will focus on providing the leaders of your organization with tools they can use to improve safety performance in your workplace.

Why attend?

Between 2006 and 2010, injured workers in the warehousing subsector accounted for:

• More than 1650 time-loss claims
• Almost 55,000 days lost from work
• More than $12 million in claims costs

Improving safety in your workplace can lead to:

• Lower workplace insurance costs – you could earn a discount of up to 50% on your premiums
• Reduced workplace injuries – safe work procedures will decrease the number of injuries
• Improved productivity – healthy workers are more likely to produce at a high level
• Consistent quality of work – keeping experienced workers at work will ensure consistency

Topics include:

• FIOSA Introduction and Background
• Forklift Training – Best Practices & Forklift Rally
• Electric Pallet Jack Training – Best Practices
• Musculoskeletal Injury (MSI) Prevention

There will also be an opportunity to discuss topics such as racking, dock plates, and dock locks vs. wheel chocks.

Join us and learn how to improve safety for your most important safety asset: YOUR WORKERS.

Date/Time:

Thursday March 29th, 2012, 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Location:

The Coast Hotel and Convention Centre, 20393 Fraser Highway, Langley, BC V31 7N2 (click here for map)

Registration & Further Information

• If you have any questions, contact Industry Specialist Phil Vernon, phillip.vernon@worksafebc.com, Phone 604-276-3256.

• Please RSVP by Thursday March 8 to John Lam, john.lam2@worksafebc.com, Phone 604-233-4015, Fax 604-214-5499.

Join us on Thursday February 23, 2012 for “Putting the Brakes on Lift Truck Accidents” a discussion forum & breakfast meeting.

Warehousing leads all other subsectors in B.C. with 7 out of every 100 workers being injured annually; almost double the rate of any other industry subsector.

Two of the top three injury types are lift-truck related injuries or what WorkSafeBC classifies as “Struck By” and “Lower Extremity Injuries”.

Join us at this breakfast meeting where we will be discussing causes, effects, experiences, challenges and sharing best practices.

Have a specific question, issue or challenge you would like addressed? Call the CMHDS office at 604-999-2979 or email us via our contact page and we will add it to the agenda.

We will be presenting the ideas & outcomes of this meeting at a WorkSafeBC safety symposium on March 29th which will also feature presentations on Musculoskeletal Injuries and WorkSafeBC’s COR program. We invite you to join us as we present the findings of the discussion and acknowledge your contribution.

EVENT DETAILS

Location: ABC Restaurant, 7380 King George Highway, Surrey, BC (King George & 74th Ave)

Date/Time: Thursday February 23rd, 2012 – 7:30am to 9:30am

Cost: $20.00 CMHDS Members & SCL Members / $40.00 Non-Members (includes full buffet breakfast)

We are pleased to announce that CMHDS members can now take advantage of a 20% discount on Operator & Train-The-Trainer programs with NIS Training.

This adds to the current partnership discounts that members enjoy including:

• a 20% discount on P.Log certification with the Logistics Institute
• a 20% discount on Permanent Placement & Preferred Rate on Temporary Placement with Adecco Employment Services
• 12% discount on workwear from Work Authority

To find out more about our Member Discount Programs click here to visit our Society Partners page.

About NIS Training

NIS Training provides the latest and most advanced Train the Trainer, mobile equipment operator, self study trainer and industrial workplace safety training programs in North America. NIS Training strives to provide companies with the highest training standards for an affordable investment.

All their mobile equipment operator and trainer certification programs are regulatory compliant with the most current regulation and standards. When a student leaves their programs, they will not only know the safety theory, but, also understand the logic (“WHY”) behind it. To receive your discount call the NIS Office at 1-866-344-3950 and identify yourself as a CMHDS member.

Join us on Saturday May 5th, 2012 at the Cloverdale Agriplex for the 15th Annual BC Championship Forklift Rally. Four Divisions with over $3500.00 in prize money to be won!

• Free Admission For Spectators – Bring your friends and view the event for free!
• Forklift Basketball, Bowling & Soccer
• Bouncy Castle for the kids!
• The Latest & Greatest Forklifts – there will be a trade show with Rally sponsors showing off their products, services & new forklifts!

Date / Location

Saturday May 5th, 2012 at the Cloverdale Agriplex, 17798 62 Avenue, Surrey, BC

Registration

Visit www.ForkliftRally.com to register and for all the details.

Join us at the NAOSH Awards lunch at Newlands Golf Course on October 20th, 2011 as we celebrate and recognize companies for their achievements in safety.

To register & for more details please view the attached file (click here)

CMHDS Expands NAOSH Week Involvement and Becomes NAOSH Week 2010 Supporter – The Canadian Material Handling & Distribution Society (CMHDS) is pleased to announce that it is expanding its emphasis on occupational health and safety through becoming an official NAOSH Week Supporter for the NAOSH Week 2010 campaign. CMHDS has previously supported NAOSH Week (branded in B.C. as ‘Safety and Health Week in B.C.’) and workplace safety through its annual BC Championship Forklift Rally (www.ForkliftRally.com), which is held in conjunction with NAOSH Week. This year will mark the 13th Annual Forklift Rally, with plans actively underway to add a new elite championship for competitors from BC, Washington and Oregon. Some CMHDS member companies, including Versacold and EV Logistics, already actively participate in NAOSH week, and have found it to be extremely valuable in promoting workplace safety in their operations.

As outlined at the www.naosh.ca website, NAOSH Week presents an excellent opportunity to focus, reinforce and strengthen commitment to occupational safety and health. Participation and involvement in NAOSH Week has been shown to: improve attitudes towards safety, increase understanding of the importance of occupational health & safety, foster a safety-minded culture, increase cooperation, raise awareness, as well as assist in team building, and improve communication between employees, safety committees and safety professionals.

CMHDS encourages all member companies to participate in NAOSH Week 2010 and keep us up to date with your successes.

For more information contact Rick LeBlanc at 604 999-2567, or email to rick.leblanc@exel.com.

Join us on Wednesday March 3rd as we present Logistics For Breakfast: How To Stage Your Own In-Company Forklift Rally.

Hosted & presented by the team that stages the BC Championship Forklift Rally each year, this breakfast seminar will cover all of the aspects that go into staging a forklift competition. Whether you are looking to promote safety within your company in a fun way, prepare for competition in the upcoming BC Championship Forklift Rally or just want to find out what goes into staging a forklift competition, you will find this seminar of value. All stages from inital planning to staging and scoring the event will be covered. 

Who should attend this event?

• Companies who will be holding inter-company Forklift Rally’s
• Companies / Safety Officers looking to promote forklift safety & knowledge in a fun way
• Companies & Individuals looking to compete in the upcoming BC Championship Forklift Rally (May 1st, 2010)
• Anyone interested in forklift competitions and/or the BC Championship Forklift Rally

Topics include:

• Obstacle Course Design & Setup
• Pre-Trip Inspections
• Written Testing
• Judging / Scoring
• Event Management & Promotion
• Required Equipment & Sourcing

 Event Details

Location:  ABC Restaurant, #130-8080 120th Street, Surrey, BC (Scott Rd. & 80th Ave)

Date/Time: 8:00am to 10:00am – Wednesday March 3rd, 2010

Cost: $15.00 Members / $25.00 Non-Members (includes full buffet breakfast)

Registration: Click Here To Register

CMHDS Launches Supply Chain Safety Council, Seeks to Network with Heath & Safety Officers from CMHDS Member Companies

The CMHDS has expanded its role in the promotion of workplace safety with its new initiative, the Supply Chain Safety Council. The SCSC was formed earlier this year with an aim of addressing health & safety concerns specific to companies within the material handling and logistics community.

The founding SCSC subcommittee includes chair Mike Stephens of Versacold, Sandra Sontag Kolberg of Maersk Distribution, Kelly Reid of EV Logistics, Rick LeBlanc of Summit Logistics, and Dan Beer of Johnston Equipment, representing the CMHDS.

The subcommittee has established a vision of meeting on a regular schedule to share information specific to safety, including the establishment of a website specific to the Supply Chain Safety Council (SCSC) that would be linked to the CMHDS website as well as www.ForkliftRally.com.

Specifically, the subcommittee seeks to create networking opportunities, opportunities to share resources, larger representation to speak on behalf of member companies to WorksafeBC policies, as well as to establish other opportunities for members.

To become part of the Supply Chain Safety Council mailing list, contact Rick LeBlanc at rick.leblanc@exel.com.