Based on incidences that occur in the North, WSCC publishes Hazard Alerts to remind workers (on and off the job) of hazards we face. The alerts explain the danger and offer clear instruction on how to minimize risk of injury. We release hazard alerts to help prevent similar incidence.
Cleaning, repairing, or performing maintenance on equipment requires safety measures to avoid serious injuries to workers. This is especially true with equipment or tools that have pinch points, cutting edges, or rotating parts. Machine guards and… more
A worker was seriously injured while cleaning dirt and debris from around a drill blast-hole. The worker’s arm was pinned by the drill’s dust collector after accidental contact was made with the drill controls. Drilling activities had been… more
A worker was fatally injured while performing maintenance on the hydraulic stairs of a rock haul truck.
Smoke from a forest or dump fire can affect the surrounding community. It may contain a mixture of chemicals and fine particles that endanger human health. The types and amount of particles and chemicals in the smoke varies depending on… more
A worker slipped and fell on stairs when exiting a building and fractured their ankle.
A worker was seriously injured while operating a bulldozer. The worker had parked on an incline, did not lower attachments, exited the equipment, and while exiting the equipment, the dozer began to travel down the incline pinning the operator… more
A Heavy Equipment Operator, while clearing snow on an ice road, went down with the equipment when it suddenly broke through the ice surface. The operator was not able to escape and died as a result of the incident.
Because of the hazards of working with powered equipment, the first choice is to de-energize and lockout the equipment before performing any work. De-energizing and locking out prevents the release of energy that could cause injury or death. Locks… more
Failure to remove accumulated ice and snow from buildings and structures can result in a serious or fatal injury to a worker or passerby from falling ice or snow.
A Heavy Equipment Operator and the excavator they were operating to remove gravel from an old quarry site slid into the water-filled excavation. It is important to assess site conditions, including proper slope or grade as excavations can cause the… more
A Heavy Equipment Operator clearing snow to build an ice road had to make an emergency exit from the machine when it broke through the ice. The operator was outside of the area tested for safe ice thickness. The operator was able to escape. Work… more
All workers in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut who work at heights of 3 metres or more, without standard guardrails, must wear CSA approved fall protection equipment.
Failure to secure a vehicle from accidental movement, particularly when it is being worked on, can result in injury or death.
On January 20, 2016 a worker exited a pickup truck with his hands full, and slipped and fell on the snowy icy ground, breaking his wrist and arm. The worker was wearing safety boots that were not rated for cold weather. Traction aids were not worn.… more
On February 4, 2015, the Regional Boiler/Gas Inspector of the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) conducted an annual inspection of pressure vessels at a mine process plant. The inspection revealed signs of corrosion between metal… more
On a summer’s morning in June, a worker with a power saw was cutting a 1” x 8” piece of wood that was located over their head at an awkward angle. Once the worker succeeded in cutting off a 12” piece of the wood, it fell and they immediately reached… more
A worker, wearing safety glasses, is underneath a car changing the oil. Dirt falls from underneath the car onto the worker’s face. Dirt gets underneath the safety glasses and into his eyes.
While operating a pneumatic nail gun on a construction site, a worker died from a penetrating skull injury.
Needle stick injuries are far too common in the health care field. These types of injuries happen when needles accidentally puncture the skin.
A build-up of pressure inside the tank of a sewage pumper truck caused tank latches to fail and the tank door to swing open, striking the operator.
Each year people get injured or killed through accidental contact with vehicles or mobile equipment in the workplace. Policing authorities investigate these events on a case-by-case basis. In the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, the safety… more
Employees who work alone or in isolation face an increased risk of confrontation and violence. Even incidents without physical confrontation, can cause stress and be emotionally traumatic for a worker. Working alone presents additional… more
While clearing brush and trees from a power line right of way, a worker cut down a tree causing it to fall onto an energized overhead power line. When the power line fell to the ground, an electrical current passed to another worker near the work… more
A worker, wearing safety glasses, is underneath a car changing the oil. Dirt falls from underneath the car onto the worker’s face. Dirt gets underneath the safety glasses and into his eyes. Sometimes just wearing eye protection is not… more
While renovating an older building, two workers were putting drywall on a ceiling, working from stepladders. They stopped for a break. One worker came down to chat with other co-workers. The other worker, a carpenter for four years,… more
A young worker was using a meat-cutting machine in a deli when he heard a noise behind him. He turned around to see where the noise was coming from. The worker lost his focus and cut his finger on the machine blade. The young worker reported the… more
A worker was carrying a 5-gallon gas can and began to feel pain in their back. The worker continued to work for the remainder of the shift and felt the pain grow progressively worse the next day. The worker sought medical attention… more
As winter retreats and temperatures rise, there are more individuals working on roofs to remove snow. For some, this means working without the necessary fall protection. This poses a significant risk to individuals because serious or… more
There is a high incidence rate of heavy equipment such as dump trucks, back hoes, front-end loaders, and water trucks interfering or colliding with power line poles, damaging them and creating an extreme hazard to anyone in the vicinity.
Failure to securely block heavy equipment in the elevated position, before working under it, may result in serious injury or death. Unsecured equipment may trap the worker between the equipment and equipment frame, or the ground.
