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“What’s wrong with this photo?” — WorkSafe Magazine, March/April issue

Editor, WorkSafe Magazine:

The bearded man is working in a very constricted area. The area around the man and woman is

way too cluttered and congested with tripping and slipping hazards. Cords and hoses are strewn

all over the place. While being used, why can’t they be strategically located so as not to present a

tripping hazard to other workers? After use, they should be wrapped up and put away.

This pallet is not safely doing its job. The load is not secured to the pallet by being bolted down

or banded, and the pallet slats appear to be bent from the weight of the blower/pump. If the

wooden slats give way, this equipment will likely roll off the pallet and seriously injure the man

or the woman. Until the load is properly secured to the pallet it cannot safely be moved by a

forklift or the pallet dolly in the background.

The woman’s coveralls are too big and too baggy. Are they flame-resistant? Those goggles don’t

look like proper cutting goggles to me.

The pedestal grinder is not vented properly. It needs an LEV (local exhaust ventilation) system

that will effectively remove contaminants, not only from this workers breathing zone, but from

the breathing zone of other workers, since the contaminants he generates migrate throughout the

shop. Because there is no proper dust control here, the man should be wearing an approved dust

mask/respirator suitable for the material being worked with. He should also be wearing a face

shield. None of this precludes the fact that a properly engineered dust control solution at this

grinding station far exceeds — in effectiveness — any PPE-only solution.

If the woman is going to be cutting, brazing, or heating with that torch she needs to have a way to

ventilate the area she’s working in. I see no evidence of a general dilution ventilation system or

effective local exhaust ventilation anywhere in the shop. The existing LEV unit on the wall in the

background will not reach to where she is working and will service only one worker at a time.This lack of ventilation could very likely result in health issues down the road — think asbestos,

carbon monoxide, lead, etc. She could at least open the roll-up door to allow fresh (diluting) air to

enter the room (if it opens to outside fresh air).

The woman is holding the torch too close to her face. If it flares up and her hand is not close to

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the fuel gas control valve (which it is not) she will have no control over the size of the (what I

presume is) acetylene flame. It also appears that she is squeezing the oxygen blast trigger which

is going to enrich the air around her with more than enough oxygen to create a hazardous

condition in the immediate area of her face. Her hair will probably burn. The obvious question

for this woman is: “Have you done an inspection on your burning equipment?” This would

include flashback arrestors, gauge lenses, hoses, properly secured oxygen and fuel tanks, and

properly set gas pressures.

The woman needs to be wearing gauntlet-style leather gloves to protect her hands. An

acetylene/oxygen flame will burn her exposed flesh instantly.

The girl needs to have her hair safely confined in a hair net, or needs to have it tied up in a bun

and confined. It could get tangled in that machine. Because she is working dangerously close toit, is she able to maintain full control of the machine? She does that by unplugging it and

remaining in constant control of the plug. If the machine is hard-wired (which it shouldn’t be),

she should be able to lock it out at a local disconnect.

The thread-cutting oil on top of thread-cutting machine is not labelled properly. It is a fire

hazard, an environmental hazard, and a potential health hazard — that is why we have WHMIS

(Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System).

This thread-cutting machine is dirty. Notice the thread cutting grindings. They are sharp and

contaminated. Chances are that someone is going to use compressed air to blow that machine off

in order to clean it. That person will spread hydrocarbons all over the workshop and turn those

jagged metal-thread cuttings into high-speed projectiles. There should be a shop vacuum or a

handbrush and pail handy to clean the thread-cutting machine without endangering workers.

Thread-cutting machines require the use of lots of lubricating oil, without which pipe threads

cannot be properly cut. This oil tends to make a mess. The woman should not be using a torch so

close to the machine. The woman is also using a torch close to what appears to be a man using a

flammable material directly behind her.

The freshly painted blue bin in the background should be taken outside to dry. If it was painted

inside the shop, it shouldn’t have been. When all of these identified air-quality health hazards are

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taken in combination along with the total lack of proper ventilation, who suffers? As these

workers are being exposed day after day to known and unknown contaminants, the cumulative

effect of these exposures cannot be undone. Sometime in the future some of these workers may

be looking at any number of very serious long-term health issues.

The man is not clean-shaven. This means that he cannot use either of the masks that are visible in

the picture, both of which are within easy reach.

Buckets on the floor are tripping hazards and have the potential to leak. Do they contain

carcinogenic, explosive, flammable, or caustic material? Is there a safer place to store them? Are

these three workers aware of the dangers that they may be facing? They have a right to know.

The bearded man needs to be wearing his safety equipment: hard hat, gloves, safety eyewear,approved work boots, coveralls, respirator, etc. Why isn’t he? In this man’s list of life’s important

priorities, where does safety place? Does he attend regularly scheduled crew safety meetings?

Does he share his safety concerns with his fellow workers at those meetings? Is he aware of his

legal rights and obligations? His wife and children may be interested in his answers to those

important questions.

The steel plate on the floor at the left of the picture (behind the pedestal grinder) is stored in an

unsecured manner, in fact there’s clutter and disorganization everywhere. The large aluminum orplastic plate leaning against the workbench should be properly stored or secured.

The employee’s personal lockers should not be located in the shop/work area. There are

contamination and other issues that may affect the employee’s long-term health. For example, are

lunches or street clothes being stored in those lockers? The portable welding curtain looks to be

in a sad state of repair. The reason for its existence has been compromised. Regardless, it could be

put to better use behind the man at the grinder or between the woman and the other man.

The LEV unit has its exhaust ducting installed improperly. The downward-facing loop will

disrupt air flow and cause particulate matter to settle at the low point. This will build up and

eventually block air flow which will render this LEV unit ineffective. This low point will also

create turbulence and resistance to air flow, thus reducing the effectiveness of this unit. This vital

safety equipment needs to be installed and maintained correctly. Sharp bends, excessive bends,

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and low spots will be avoided in any well-engineered, air-moving system.

There are not enough LEV units to protect three workers from the contaminants that they are

exposed to, and the one up on the wall that I do see is not even being used. Besides that, its

suction hood is at a perfect head-banging level.

Permanent safety lines should be painted on the floor demarking a safe pedestrian walkway

separated from mobile equipment routes. The roll-up door is very close to the other, smaller door

and there does not seem to be enough safe clearance in this congested area of the shop. Forklifts

coming through this roll-up door will always have the right of way — are these workers aware of

this fact? The top of the roll-up door has been damaged. Can I assume it still works?

Unless the man is using the paint can in the here and now, it should have its lid put back on andbe safely stored in a fireproof cabinet or an offsite storage location. Hopefully, a safe and secure

storage area has been provided for these containers.

If that is thread-cutting oil on top of the thread cutter, it needs to be applied to the ‘point of

operation’ by an oil can with a long spout — not a spray bottle. This keeps the operator’s hands

out of the point-of-operation zone and eliminates entanglement issues and reduces oil mist in the

shop. This machine is incredibly powerful and will grab long hair, loose coveralls, poorly fitted

gloves, and anything else (cables, hoses, wires) it can get. Even if you immediately hit theemergency stop button, these machines usually ‘coast’ to a stop (at their leisure), rather than

stopping instantaneously. In the interim, the ‘thread-cutting machine’ will do serious damage to

flesh and bone.

The thread-cutting machine should be isolated from other work activities. The pipe that has been

incorrectly inserted (off-centre) into this machine will violently whip around and easily do

serious damage to people and property. The longer the pipe, the greater the risk.

The oxygen bottle does not appear to be properly secured and has no measure of protection

whatsoever. It is located too close to the workbench, which makes it vulnerable to damage. I

don’t like its location so close to that exit door.

There appears to be lots of aluminum in this picture. If that man at the grinder is grinding

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aluminum, he needs to be informed that aluminum grindings are highly explosive and burn

extremely hot when mixed with steel or iron grindings (4500 degrees F). Also, is he using a

proper grinding wheel that will not load up with aluminum? Regardless, the grinding machine is

not properly vented anyway and should not be used. He is simply contaminating the atmosphere

that everyone else must breathe — including him.

The fire extinguisher location needs to be more clearly marked by a sign hanging just above or to

the side and the sign needs to be large enough to be seen from a distance. Currently its location is

partially obscured. Is there an up-to-date inspection tag and is the extinguisher of the proper

type, rating, and capacity?

Is the bearded man using a hazardous product? Does he even know? Does he have access to the

MSDS information that may save his life? Has he received any hazardous materials training? Hasthat training been documented?

I see no signs or placards around any of these work areas. I see no warning signage at the

pedestal grinder, at the roll-up door, near to the thread-cutting machine or anywhere else for that

matter. If the door in the background is an exit door it should be labelled as such with a lighted

exit sign. I see no sign of emergency lighting anywhere in this shop. In the event of a power

outage, they are in the black.

How will that heavy-looking door in the foreground be safety secured once it is raised? Once

those removable guardrails are removed, what method will be used to prevent workers from

falling through? I see no evidence of a fall protection system or any sign of anchor points to

attach a lanyard to.

Finally, who is supervising these workers and why is that person allowing all of this unsafe and

unhealthy activity? In the event of an accident, will the supervisor conduct a resulting accident

investigation focusing on ways to prevent recurrence? For this uninformed supervisor, it will be

particularly hard to conduct an impartial and objective investigation while in ‘CYA’ mode.

All of us need to make it our determination to work smartly and safely.

Merv Hansen

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Millwright and Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee member

Lakewood Electric Ltd.

Canfor

Quesnel, B.C.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….


We have put together, as a group, the following answers for this month’s contest:

Worker #1 (working with the grinder)

The worker is wearing safety glasses, but for this task he should also be wearing a face shield

The worker has loose hoses coiled around his feet — a possible tripping hazard

It is hard to see, but it does not appear that the worker is wearing hearing protection

Depending on the material the worker is using, he should also be wearing respiratory protection

Worker #2 (painting)

The worker is equipped with an N95 respirator (around his neck), but he is not using it

The worker is not wearing a hard hat

The worker is wearing running shoes, not steel-toed boots

If the worker needs to employ the respiratory protection, he should be clean-shaven for that task

The worker’s positioning has left him in an odd location, wedged between the rails behind him

and the unit in front of him. If he lost balance, he could hit either unit

The worker is wearing his street clothes, when all other workers in the area are wearing a full set

of coveralls

Worker #3 (cutting the torch)

The worker should be wearing appropriate gloves for using a cutting torch

The worker’s hair should be controlled somehow (hair pulled back, hair cut, etc.)

The worker has loose hoses in the area of her feet (a tripping hazard)

There are several items in her work area that could be considered flammable hazards. These

items should be removed prior to starting any torch-cutting

Are the glasses that she is wearing rated to do work with a cutting torch?

General Area

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There are several overturned buckets in the area of the painter. These should be stored properly

There is a loose line or cord draped between the fan and the pipe-threader. The could be a hazard

and both machines have moving parts: the cord could get snagged

The chain on the pipe vice is snarled around the leg of the tripod

The yellow set of guardrails does not quite cover the hazard below. The metal piece on the floor

seems to extend past the guardrails on a couple of sides

There is a spray bottle on the table that does not seem to have any kind of marking on it (marked

according to WHMIS)

In the far corner by the door, there is a compressed gas bottle that does not seem to be secured

The safety cap for the gas bottle is sitting on top of the electrical panel near the door. No storage

should be provided on or near the electrical units

The vacuum attachment by the roll-up doors is in an unsafe spot. It could impede proper

operation of the roll-up door, and it could also be a hazard to anyone walking or driving through

that door.

The tip-bin in the middle of the room should be in a locked position

There are some unsecured items being stored above the lockers

There does not seem to be any evidence of an exit sign, any EM lighting and no sign of an

eyewash station

If the rope going over the yellow guardrails is for lifting a hatch or door, there should be

something there for the worker to grasp, such as a handle or a thickened portion of the rope to

avoid injury on a thin line

The bench near the door seems to be restricting access and egress

Some safety equipment is being blocked by the desk at the door (the lifesaver behind the desk)

The fire extinguisher mounted by the door has a large, looping hose that could catch on workers

or equipment going by

Derek McDonald

OFA/CSO

Ledcor Industries Inc.Metrotower III

Vancouver, B.C.

………………………………………………………………………………………………


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The exit doors are cluttered and not clearly identified. Signage should be posted as to where the

emergency exit is above the doors. The garbage bin is blocking an exit as well as a tripping

hazard hose/cord and equipment. The work bench should be moved from the doorway to allow

for clear access and visibility. Consider painting on the floor in safety yellow a zone that isalways to be kept clear. What looks like an air extraction system above the exit door would need

to be relocated so exit signage would be clearly visible above the door.

The fire extinguisher could be better identified with a red stripe going floor to ceiling. As well as

signage above indicating a fire extinguisher can be found below. Additional fire extinguishing

equipment should be available for the welding station in addition to the all purpose ABC fire

extinguisher, such as a couple water fire extinguishers.

I do not see a firm alarm pull on the wall. One should be nearby for the workers and clearly

identified.

Near the exit door is a pressurized red tank that does not appear to be securely fastened to a

stationary structure or wall to prevent it from falling over. It should also have a designated area

for storage that is kept clear. Signage above the cylinder identifying its contents. As well as anti-

crash bars so larger equipment cannot crush the cylinder.

The gas tank for welding would benefit from being secured to prevent accidental tipping or

falling over. The welding area should be redesigned to be in a separate area away from other

workers. The area would benefit from dedicated exhaust or air extraction system. There should

also be a dedicated welding work area or bench free from clutter and flammables. There is a

tripping hazard under the welder’s feet as well as a long yellow hose at thigh level. The welder

does not have all PPE on, which should include insulated fire rated gloves, Respiratory

protection, hair tied back and overalls completely done up so flammable street clothes are

covered. The welding hose is wrapped around the worker, the hose should be away from the

worker where it is not possible to trip or get entangled in. The orange welding shield to protect

other workers is not in use. The area should be cordoned off with welding signage to protect

other workers from entering the area while welding is occurring. There should be an appointed

fire watch supervisor for a period during and a period of time after welding is complete.

There is a pail on its side near the painter that is not clearly identifiable; there isn’t appropriate

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child-warning or WHMIS labels. There is a red rag left on the floor by the pail that could be a fire

hazard. Rags should be placed in a fire-proof bin. The pail may have contents spilling on the floor

that pose a potentially toxic or slipping hazard.

The painter should be working in an area away from the welder and grinder. The paint and

solvents used can ignite when in proximity to the other workers. The painter needs his personal

protective equipment (PPE), which includes a respirator, safety glasses, gloves, safety shoes, and

overalls. The worker is using an opened pail as a work bench: a tipping hazard. His posture

could be improved if it is possible to lift the item he is painting to a standing position. He is

working in a cluttered area that has the potential to spill or cause people to trip. The painter is

also working near a yellow railing that he could stand into, leading to an injury. The painter

could also benefit from an air-extraction system to keep the fumes and VOCs (volatile organic

compounds) he and others breathe in to a minimum.

There is a no-step item on the floor near the painter that is not completely protected by the

railing. The item itself could be damaged if stepped on and is a tripping hazard. The item also

has a rope over-hanging the railing that could be a future entanglement hazard. The rope would

be better tied into a neat bundle.

All workers are working near a grinder and would benefit from hearing protection.

The grinder-worker would benefit from a face shield to prevent shards of metal hitting him in the

face and neck.

I do not see signage or evidence of an eyewash station in the area.

A supervisor or safety officer needs to regularly inspect the work area and ensure safety

procedures are followed. The lack of safety in the picture is a sign that safety infractions are

systemic throughout the facility and routine inspections and education are needed to ensure

WorkSafeBC guidelines and laws are followed.

The entire work area is cluttered with items on the floor that need to be removed to keep tripping

hazards and spills from happening. All work should stop until the site is cleaned up and safe.

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There is a red flag above the grinder that may be flammable and should be relocated to another

area.

The welder is attempting to ignite the torch while it’s directed toward her hand. The torch should

be pointed away from body parts when in use.

There appears to be a stop/start red-and-green switch on the wall by the exit door that is not

easily accessible.

Charlene Ptachyk

Senior Quality Supervisor

Vancouver General Paint

Vancouver, B.C.

………………………………………………………………………………………………


The worker is not wearing a face shield

The worker is not wearing hearing protection

Housekeeping: the hose on the floor is a tripping hazard

There is an unsecured oxygen cylinder

The worker’s long hair should be tied up

The worker is not wearing gloves

The worker is not wearing proper eye protection

The lighting torch should not be used at face height or without protection

There is an unmarked container of liquid (cutting fluid)

There is a tripping hazard outside the guardrail

The worker should not be using a torch near flammable cutting oil

The worker is not wearing hand protection

The local ventilation is not in use; general ventilation may not be good enough to control hazards

The worker is not wearing a hard hat

The worker’s respirator is not being used

Beards are not allowed when using respirators

The dust mask should be used instead of a cartridge respirator

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The worker is not wearing proper footwear

The worker is not wearing flame-resistant clothing

The doorway is blocked

The cylinder caps are off

The access to the electrical panel is impeded

The dumpster is tipped up; it could fall down

There is a lack of WHMIS labels

Cords are strewn all over

Others in the work area may need respirators also, depending on the fumes

There is a potential ignition source if vapours or fumes are not controlled

Use of the torch while painting is going on may be an ignition source for uncontrolled vapours or

fumes

The worker has poor body positioning for the task at hand

The tops of the lockers should not be considered storage space

There should not be items on the rack where you would have to reach over rotating equipment

Scrap metal should be stored out of the shop

The overhead door clearance should be marked

No exit sign is posted

No noise level sign is posted

The gloves used may not be appropriate around rotating equipment

Store materials outside of the shop area

Post an extinguisher sign

All flame-resistant clothing should be buttoned up

Do not store items on the electrical switch box

The extinguisher should be closer to the hot work (readily available)

Trent Desautels

Safety & Security Section Supervisor/Fire Chief

Coop Refinery Complex

Regina, Saskatchewan

………………………………………………………………………………………………


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There are two tipped-over containers in the foreground

The painter is not wearing an approved fume mask; it’s resting on top of his project

The painter is not wearing safety shoes

The painter and the welder have a rope laying across their workspace

The painteris not wearing gloves or protective clothing

The painter should have his project raised to avoid having to crouch down

The welder’s hair is not tied back

The welder is not wearing gloves

The welder has an unmarked spray bottle balanced on top of her grey threading machine

The welding curtain is not between the welder and painter

The welder is working with clutter around her

The welder is not wearing proper eyewear or protective leather clothing or proper head gear

The worker should be using a cutting torch behind the flash curtain and using the proper

ventilation system

The grinder: the worker is not using a face shield

Due to the small work area, all three workers should be wearing hearing protection during

grinding operations

Heavy green equipment has been placed on an old, rickety pallet

The red-foot control is being used as a wedge under the wheel of the threading machine

The smoke and dust extractor is not in a useful position

The blue hose around the base of the grinder is a tripping hazard

The items leaning against the work bench are not secure

There are hoses draped over items leaning against the work bench

Access to the red bottle behind the work bench is restricted

There are numerous fire hazards: lighting a cutting torch near flammable paints, hoses, and cords

just lying around

Items placed on top of the controller for the roll-up door may contain liquid

The fire exit is partially blocked by items against the bench, hose, and large blue bin

Loose items should not be placed on top of lockers

The MSDS (material safety data sheets) information book is missing

Containers are missing WHMIS labels

Tracey Hamm

Unit General Safety and Environment Officer

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Canadian Forces Fleet School Esquimalt

CFB Esquimalt

National Defence

Victoria, B.C.

………………………………………………………………………………………………


No safety glasses are worn by the employee

The screen should be between employees when using a torch

The employee has the wrong PPE, no face shield, and no screen

Unidentified liquid is too close to the employee with the torch

A mask is not worn to protect from fume inhalation

Hoses present tripping hazards

The worker should not be wearing tennis shoes; these should be steel-toed boots

The worker is grinding without a face shield

There is an obstruction to the door

Items need to be properly stored

The respirator is not properly stored

The tipped-over bucket needs to be cleaned up

The air bottle is not properly stored

Scott Buber

Manager

MLS

Los Angeles, CA

………………………………………………………………………………………………


There are too many bends in the LEV (local exhaust ventilation) system

The exhaust inlet is too far away from the generation point, which will significantly reduce the

effectiveness of the LEV

The welding shield is not enough— it should cover all affected areas

The evacuation route should be kept clear without obstructions

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The gas cylinder should be secured to the cylinder trolley

The wire on the wall should be in fire-resistant tubes

The blue light on the switch box is confusing. Blue always means safe

The operator should not stand in front of the wheel

The operator should wear a face shield. If necessary, he should consider respiratory protection

Two hot work spots exist in one place; they should not share only one fire extinguisher

The operator exposes himself to a trip hazard caused by blue plastic pipe

The workers should not put stuff on the top of the locker cabinet. It’s not safe to reach and handle

objects at a height

The object to be cut should be secured rather than holding it in the hand

Torch-cutting requires glove to protect hands

The plastic sprayer is too close to the heat source. Chemical containers without fire protection are

within 10 meters

A helmet, safety glasses, safety shoes, chemical-resistant gloves, and a respiratory mask are

required when painting

Small paint cans should not put on the cover of another paint drum. They’re not secure enough

There are no secondary containment measures or spill kits nearby

The yellow tube is crosses one workstation into another and is a tripping hazard

If the empty paint drum falls on the ground, it could cause an environmental and health risk

The worker’s gesture is not suitable for working. Also, he’s too close the floor opening, although

it is covered by a metal plate

The painter should also consider an LEV to reduce the risks to other workers

The protection barricade fence should not be used as the secure point for ropes to lift the heavy

metal cover

The blower on the pallet should be secured to prevent accidentally falling over

Yuan Liu

EHS Engineer

Suzhou Alstom High Voltage Company

Suzhou, SND, China

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………


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The worker is painting in the middle

The worker is not wearing steel-toed footwear

The worker does not have hearing protection

The worker does not have eye protection (goggles)

There are no impervious gloves/clothing (coveralls)

The respirator hanging around the worker’s neck is the wrong type (P100)

He should use the respirator that is improperly stored on the equipment he’s painting (when it’s

not on his face, it should be stored in a bag)

He is not clean-shaven, so even if he was wearing a mask, he could not ensure an effective seal

We can assume that there is no MSDS sheet available to this worker because: he isn't safely

storing/handling this product (he’s using it near an open flame), and he isn't wearing the

required PPE. Does he have adequate ventilation?

There is no emergency first aid supplies (eyewash) available

His paint bucket is spilling something on the floor, creating a slipping hazard

He is currently painting the colour green, so he should put the lid on the brown paint before he

spills it

The yellow hose on top of the equipment he is painting should be coiled up and put away. It

causes tripping hazards and doesn't maintain a clear path in the event of an evacuation

The equipment he is painting is on a pallet and should be elevated, so he does not get an

musculoskeletal injury (MSI) from being bent over all day

The worker welding on the right: she should have her hair tied back, she should have a full face

shield with UV rating for welding, and she should have a respirator

There is no WHMIS label/decanting sticker on the product in the spray bottle

Should she be lighting up that torch when flammable products are being used in her vicinity?

What’s in the spray bottle?

Her welding screen should be positioned to protect her co-workers from flash burn

Is the fire extinguisher considered immediately present where it is located? Does she know where

it is? Has the extinguisher had its annual testing?

The worker grinding on the left: is not wearing hearing protection, should have a full face shield

on, and should secure the cylinder on the table beside him so it doesn’t fall and explode

The room: emergency exits/routes aren't identified, requires an emergency shower/eye-washing

facility, and the workers require better training and supervision

Tarra Turner

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On behalf of the workers of Knappett Projects Inc.

Maritime Helicopter Facility

North Saanich, B.C.

Documents

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