Summer is here, bringing with it road trips, lake days, and cashing in precious vacation time. The days ahead promise sunbathing, pitching tents, and scrambling to pack suitcases the night before leaving. Amidst this chaos, we also combat juggling itineraries, forgetting our sunscreen, or even losing reservations in a sea of emails.

Submitted by Jim Semeschuk, NCSO, ASHSP - Southern Trucking (a division of Southern Messenger)

Safety Moment: Spring is upon us

Submitted by Dave Davis, Enmax

This Safety Moment is a reminder to slow down and proceed carefully through roadway intersections. Statistics from the Alberta Government show intersection-related collisions increase in the month of January – mostly due to winter conditions. The province says one in four collisions on Alberta roadways occur at an intersection. The risk of intersection collisions increases when pedestrians, motorists, and cyclists converge. Drivers should be aware of the risks and watch their speed, make proper left turns, stop at stop signs and obey all traffic signals.

Jeremy W. Woolward, NHSA, CTSP , Fleet Safety Manager, Chariot Express Ltd.

In industry, we often talk about slips, trips, and falls being some of the most common injuries experienced in the workplace. Hazards, such as water, equipment, and uneven surfaces, can lead to unforeseen and unfortunate outcomes. These are outcomes that you can visually see, and these visual outcomes are easy to manage.

Guest column by Andrew Stacey, Certified Director of Safety, National, Commercial Auto Fleet Safety Consultant, Aviva Risk Management

Fleet managers: do you want to improve safety, ensure your drivers are operating efficiently and reduce the frequency and severity of vehicle insurance claims? Use your telematics data.

Submitted by Chad Eamer, Civeo

According to the National Forestry Database over 8,000 fires occur each year and burn an average of over 2.1 million hectares Also, lightning causes about 50% of all fires but accounts for about 85% of the annual area burned, this is all within Canada.

Submitted by: Don MacDonald, CCA Truck Driver Training Ltd.

We have all seen them out there on the roads. The slow moving vehicle with the dreaded “Student Driver” signs on them. It seems, for most people, the natural response to this sighting is to step hard on the fuel pedal and get out around those vehicles. People tend to feel driver training vehicles are a nuisance on the road. Sometimes, I don’t necessarily disagree with that theory. I will agree, it is somewhat annoying when a traffic light turns green and the driver in front of you is still trying to decide if it is safe or not to go.

Passenger vehicles are sharing busier and busier highways with more commercial vehicles – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in varying road conditions. While the importance of improving road safety is obvious, putting plans and rules into place that the transportation and logistics industry can easily adopt is a significant challenge.

Opening remarks to the House of Commons of Canada’s Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities relating to its study on Anticipated Labour Shortages in the Canadian Transportation Sector

Looking at the past in terms of a month, a quarter, or a year has the effect of averaging out daily highs and lows. When I was trucking, I remember many bad days and good days that, after a month, averaged out into a general mood. I remember mentors and employers telling me in times of stress to “consider the big picture” when making decisions.

In 2019, in those pre-COVID “before times”, folks were talking about the construction of additional commercial and public safety rest stops in Alberta [1] – at least those involved in Alberta’s trucking industry, anyways, and the many commuters who were frequenting Highway 2 between Calgary and Edmonton.

Alberta Transportation Minister Rajan Sawhney keynote of fifth annual Western Women With Drive

Alberta Transportation Minister Rajan Sawhney was among the speakers at the fifth annual Western Women With Drive presented virtually by AMTA and Trucking HR Canada Oct. 29.

When I first started trucking, I was terrified.

The fear I felt when I first began trucking wasn’t a deterrent, though. It was felt along with feelings of excitement, wanderlust, adventure, and a boyhood dream of becoming a trucker now fulfilled. When working in yards, practicing maneuvers, and riding with trainers, I was always eager to get going and couldn’t wait to get out on my own.

Arvind Nunner is at a Petro-Pass north of Edmonton on Highway 43 when he takes some time to talk to us about health behind the wheel.

You’re probably already out working in your field, but here are some more tips on staying safe during this busy season.

Make sure everyone knows what to do.

Before you head out on the field:

“A general problem with prescriptive work rules of all types is that they require rote compliance instead of intelligent self-management.” – Dr. Ron Knipling, Safety for the Long Haul [1]

After a hot, dry, and dusty summer across the prairies, it’s finally harvest time. We want you to be safe during this busy season, with nothing slowing down your harvest. Here are a few tips that may help you reduce your risk.

In the 1800s, the British began surveying areas of India, Tibet, and Central Asia [1]. In the 1920s, British mountaineers began the first recorded expeditions with the goal of reaching the summit of Sagarmatha (Sanskrit for “Peak of Heaven” [2]), or Mount Everest as it is more commonly known in the Western world. It wasn’t until until 1953 that an expedition was able to reach the summit [3].

According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada: “30 per cent of short- and long-term disability claims in Canada are attributed to mental health problems and illnesses. It is clearly in our best interest to ensure the psychological safety of our employees.

When I was an over-the-road trucker, I frequently drove Highway 3 in British Columbia from the Alberta border to the Highway 95 intersection at Yahk. Due to a combination of shorter distance, minimal grades, and expedited access to the divided and truck-friendly Interstate 90 in Idaho, this is a popular route for trucks heading to the American West Coast from central to southern Alberta.