SDMAP

April 12, 2007

Railway Safety Act Review Secretariat

180 Elgin Street Suite 901

Ottawa, Ontario

K2P 2K3

The Honorable Doug Lewis (Chair)

Dear Sir:

Re: Railway Safety Act Review

Subject: Personal Protective Equipment Requirements

In an effort to continue growing the Health and Safety programs of all our facilities, the member companies of the Strathcona District Mutual Assistance Program (SDMAP) have reviewed the requirements for the wearing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) by all employees on our work sites. In order to comply with the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety proposed General Safety Regulation Part 18, pertaining to PPE, we as employers, must ensure that all workers use and properly wear the appropriate PPE specified in the regulation.

The safety of our employees is the forefront of our PPE requirements. As with all contractors that work on our industrial sites, we require that railways supply and comply with these recommended minimum PPE requirements. We find that railways are negligent in complying with these requirements and/or enforcing them.

The recommended minimum PPE requirements worn at our member company facilities are:

  1. Protective headwear that meets the standards in CAN/CSA-Z94.1-02 or ANSI Z89.1-1997, ANSI Z-89.1.2003.
  2. Protective footwear that meets the standards in CAN/CSA-Z195-M92.
  3. Eye protection that meets the standards in CAN/CSA Z94.3-99.
  4. Fire retardant outerwear – coverall/outer-clothing layer; (231(1)) Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code 2006.
  5. Hand protection that provides the worker adequate protection from the hazards on the work site or temperatures that they may be exposed to.

The above listed PPE is already a requirement to be worn by all our employees while working on our facilities’ properties. The SDMAP members group wanted to ensure that we include all our contracting companies in promoting a safer and healthier work place. We look forward to helping each other in reaching our health and safety goals together.

SDMAP

Approximately 30 industrial companies and emergency agencies in East Edmonton and StrathconaCounty participate in SDMAP activities. Industrial members including refineries, petro-chemicalplants, manufacturers and oil and gas transportation companies.
Emergency response agencies are represented in SDMAP. These agencies include emergencyservicesand police, in both Strathcona County and the City of Edmonton.

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Working together :

Although we are individually well prepared to handle emergencies within our own job sites, all industrial plants in the Refinery Row and the Yellowhead Trail region appreciate the help of neighbours in the event of a major emergency.
When a situation extends into or affects the surrounding community, members of the Strathcona District Mutual Assistance Program (SDMAP) work together to minimize the effect of the situation and efficiently control it.

If you require further information, please contact:

Loyd Bacon

Chairman

SDMAP

Phone (780) 410-5591

e-mail: