Health & Safety / Environmental Contractor Orientation

Welcome

This contractor safety orientation is intended to provide contractors with the information they require to work safely on Yukon Energy Corporation (YEC) property and projects. Departments at Yukon Energy that hire and coordinate contractor work understand their responsibility to ensure that all contractors attend the orientation session before they commence work.

Yukon Energy expects that contractors understand, it is their responsibility to ensure that project work is performed in a safe manner, and that they are in compliance with the Yukon Occupational Health & Safety Act and Regulations, and any other applicable territorial and/or federal laws and/or regulations, and any other Yukon Energy specific requirements that may apply.

This orientation does not address nor is it intended to abrogate or assume responsibility for the contractor’s duty to its employees. This orientation does not provide an outline of laws, ordinances regulations governing occupational health and safety compliance. It is intended to identify specific responsibilities, communicate the availability of hazard information for Yukon Energy properties and to outline Yukon Energy’s health and safety management system.

Each contractor must be familiar with all current legislation pertaining to the work and will be responsible to comply with such legislation. Work being performed in an unsafe manner is unacceptable, and may result in temporary or permanent removal of the contractor from the Yukon Energy project.

For questions, concerns or additional information, please contact your Yukon Energy Project Manager, or the Yukon Energy Health and Safety department.

Emergency exits and muster point

At your location –
Take a few minutes to locate the nearest fire exit, review the emergency exit route, locate the nearest fire extinguisher, and location of the fire alarm pull station.

Is there a fire alarm? Is it a bell? Is it a siren & strobe?

Identify the muster point location.

For all Yukon Energy Corp. facilities, please ensure you receive a site specific orientation from the Project Manager, or their designate.

Whitehorse Rapids Generating Facility LNG evacuation

• LNG plant alarm condition; immediately leave YEC facility and proceed to muster point at Millennium Trail gate (across from the YEC main office);
• Whitehorse Hydro Unit #4 (WH4); immediately leave they facility and proceed to muster point at the top of the WH4 ramp; wait for further instructions.

• LNG plant alarm condition; immediately leave YEC facility and proceed to muster point at Millennium Trail gate (across from the YEC main office); then cross Millennium Trail bridge adjacent to Nisutlin Drive.
• Whitehorse Hydro Unit #4 (WH4); immediately leave they facility and proceed to muster point at the top of the WH4 ramp; then proceed across dam, follow Nisutlin Drive to Millennium Trail.
• I have read/reviewed and understand the emergency information above.
  • Yes

Yukon Energy commitment to H&S

Responsibility for Safety

Safety is not only the responsibility of Yukon Energy Management or Safety personnel. All workers are responsible for their own safety and the safety of others in the work area – including the general public.

Source – Yukon Worker’s Safety and Compensation Act.

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Impairment

The responsibility for your own safety and the safety of others in the work area also includes impairment. Please do not put yourself or your co-workers at risk by being impaired.

• Prescription drugs;
• Non-prescription drugs;
• Alcohol and/or hangover;
• Lack of sleep; or fatigue.

Yukon Energy is committed to the health and safety of all its employees through a policy (HS-003; Substance Abuse) that will not tolerate substance abuse.
This policy applies to all employees, contractors and consultants working on Yukon Energy’s premises/facilities.

Also see Yukon OH&S Regulations; Part 1 – General (1.05).

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First aid

• Know where the first aid equipment is located – kit, eye wash, blankets, stretcher, etc.;
• Know who the first aid attendant is;
• Know how to contact the first aid attendant.

• You require attention from a medical practitioner at a hospital; a nursing station; or, doctor’s office.
• You require attention from a Medical First Responder, Advanced First Aider, BC OFA 3.

Click here to see the Yukon Energy Corporation Incident Reporting Matrix.

Also,
Know the emergency exit route(s) from your work area;
Know where the fire extinguishers are located;
Know where the fire alarm pull stations are located;
Know how to contact emergency services.

911 service is available in all Yukon communities.
Click here to see the Yukon Government 911 brochure.

Click here to see a list of emergency services phone numbers for communities outside the Whitehorse area.

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Workplace incidents

Other work place incidents.

Please note: The term incident is used at Yukon Energy to cover the following: an accident, an injury, a ‘near miss’, and a Serious Incident with Fatality potential (SIFP).

Please report all other workplace incidents to your Yukon Energy Project Manager. Yukon Energy will always request an investigation report from a contractor in the event of a workplace incident.

When incidents are investigated, the emphasis is on finding the immediate cause and contributing factors – so that a recurrence is prevented. Investigations are to find the facts – not to find fault.

What is an accident?

The term accident can be defined as an unplanned event that interrupts the completion of an activity, and that may (or may not) include injury or property damage.

What is a ‘near miss’?

A ‘near miss’ can be defined as an unplanned event that did not result in injury, illness, or damage – but had the potential to do so.

Only a fortunate break in the chain of events prevented an injury, property/equipment damage, or fatality. In other words, a miss that was nonetheless very near.

What is a Serious Incident with Fatality potential (SIFP)?

A SIFP is an incident or near miss that results in or has the potential to produce a fatal or life-altering injury or illness.

To determine if an incident is a SIFP, ask these 2 questions:

• Had the circumstances been slightly different, is it reasonable that the event could have resulted in serious injury or fatality?
• If the situation was repeated a dozen or one hundred times, is it reasonable to conclude that the outcome would eventually be a SIFP?

If the answer is ‘YES’ to either question, the incident is a SIFP.

Fill in the blanks

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Worker Rights

1. Right to know – You have a right to know what hazards are present in the workplace, and are given the information, training, and supervision you need to protect yourself.
2. Right to participate – You have a right to participate in keeping your workplace healthy and safe, which may include selecting or being a health and safety representative or committee member. You also have a right to report unsafe conditions and practices.
3. Right to refuse – You can refuse work that you believe to be dangerous to yourself or your co-workers. When you exercise your right to refuse work, you must follow the proper procedure.

Source – Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS).

Also see, Yukon OH&S Act: 15(1) – Hazardous Work: Refusal by an employee.

Click here to see Yukon Workers Compensation Health and Safety Board information; How do I report an unsafe workplace?

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Joint H&S Committee

In Yukon, a Joint Health and Safety Committee must be established when there are more than 20 workers on a worksite, for more than 1 month.

Source – Yukon Workers Safety and Compensation Act.

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Tools and Equipment

Ensure that all workers are adequately trained to use tools and equipment.

Ensure workers know how to identify defective tools and equipment and that they also know how to remove defective tools and equipment from service.

Ensure that mobile equipment has updated maintenance records and that workers get training specific to the equipment.

• CLICK HERE for Part 4; Hand Tools and Power Driven Portable Tools.
• CLICK HERE for Part 6; Mobile Equipment.

Are you using any of the following tools and equipment at Yukon Energy?

Fill in the blanks

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Bear safety

Yukon is bear country. When working and travelling in the Yukon, the chances are you will eventually come across a bear. If you understand bear behavior and apply a few basic principles, you can stay safe in bear country.

Click here to see Yukon Energy Safe Work Practice, SWP-004: Bear Safety.

“The simplest and best way to prevent human-bear encounters is not to attract bears in the first place” (source – YG, Guidelines for Industrial Activity in Bear Country).

• Take garbage away from the work site; even if it is bio-degradable;
• Take petroleum products (diesel fuel, grease, oil) away from the work site; or, secure it from bears;
• Never feed a bear (or other wildlife).

If you have bear deterrent (bear spray, non-lethal projectiles, and/or noisemakers) as a control, ensure that workers have the deterrent available to them and that they receive instruction on how to use it.

Click here to see Yukon Government (Environment) document, How you can stay safe in bear country.

Click here to see Yukon Government (Geology) document, Guidelines for Industrial Activity in Bear Country.

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Job Safety Analysis

All contractor and sub-contractor employees are required to conduct, and/or participate in, a pre-job safety analysis meeting (tailboard, tailgate, toolbox). This process must be documented.

• List the job steps;
• List the hazards – both existing and potential;
• Implement effective barriers.

Click here to see CCOHS information; What is a Job Safety Analysis?

• Elimination (including substitution): remove the hazard from the workplace, or substitute (replace) hazardous materials or machines with less hazardous ones.
• Engineering Controls: includes designs or modifications to plants, equipment, ventilation systems, and processes that reduce the source of exposure.
• Administrative Controls: controls that alter the way the work is done, including timing of work, policies and other rules, and work practices such as standards and operating procedures (including training, housekeeping, equipment maintenance, and personal hygiene practices).
• Personal Protective Equipment: equipment worn by individuals to reduce exposure such as contact with chemicals or exposure to noise.

These methods are also known as the “hierarchy of control” because they should be considered in the order presented (it is always best to try to eliminate the hazard first, etc).

Click here to see a Guide for Hazard Control.

‘Sign-on’ to the safety analysis document is important; ensuring that all workers on the project have had a chance to review it, understand it, and provide input.

‘Sign-off’ of the safety analysis document is also important. It ensures that all workers have left the work site safely. It is also a good opportunity to debrief the day’s work – “Did we miss anything today?” “What do we need to consider for tomorrow’s work?”

Once you check all the correct answers, you will be able to continue to the next page.

Personal Protective Equipment

• CSA protective headwear; Type II, Class E
• CSA protective eyewear with side shields;
• CSA protective footwear.

Click here to see an example of posted PPE signage.

Always observe posted PPE signage.

• Required by Yukon OH&S Regulations;
• When identified on the pre-job safety analysis;
• Walking between buildings at the Whitehorse Rapids Generating Facility.

• Have the PPE available to them;
• Are adequately trained to inspect the PPE prior to use; and
• Are adequately trained to wear the PPE properly.

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Permits/permissions

Permits and/or permission is required to perform the following work at Yukon Energy:

Click those that apply to you:

• All workers entering Yukon Energy substations require adequate training. Check with your YEC Project Manager or Health and Safety for training requirements.
• All workers entering Yukon Energy substations are required to obtain permission from the Yukon Energy Operator-In-Charge (System Control Center); and, the Person-In-Charge (when applicable).
• Please read the following Yukon Energy Safe Work Practices:
  • SWP-150; Substation – General Safety Rules. Click here to read now.
  • SWP-151; Substation – Personal Protective Equipment. Click here to read now.
  • SWP-152; Substation – Hazards and Equipment. Click here to read now.
  • SWP-153; Substation – Snow Removal. Click here to read now.

A permit from Yukon Energy Operator-In-Charge (at System Control Center) may be required. Please contact your YEC Project Manager or Health and Safety if you have any questions regarding work under/near energized power lines.

Contact YEC Transmission and Distribution department for power line site orientation

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Helicopter Safety

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WCB claims

Contractor is responsible for developing claim, submitting claim, managing the claim.

Wildland fires

REPORT FOREST FIRES –   1-888-798-FIRE (3473)

Yukon Energy Contractors and sub-contractors are expected to comply with the requirements of the Forest Protection Act (Yukon), and with Yukon Energy’s requirements, concerning the prevention, reporting, control, suppression, and extinguishment of forest fires.

You are expected to take all reasonable precautions to prevent any forest fire starting and spreading from the work area.

You are also expected to have fire extinguishing equipment at the work area.

Click here to view a typical Yukon Energy Construction Agreement document.

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Yukon OHS Act and Regulations

Worksite tour

Project specific information

Are you working in any of the following locations?

• An Aishihik site orientation is required. Please see the Plant Operator to receive the orientation.
• Ensure that you receive a site orientation before starting work.
• All workers are required to complete the Aishihik Hydro orientation prior to starting work.
• Contact your YEC Project Manager or Health and Safety to get the online orientation link; or, use the YEC Orientations link sent to you and click ‘Courses’ at the top right; choose ‘Aishihik Hydro Orientation’.

Health and Safety program

You have accomplished the Yukon Energy Health and Safety portion of the orientation.

On the next page you will begin the Environment portion of the orientation.

Stay safe. Stay healthy.

Lesson 1: Environmental Policy

• Yukon Energy Corporation (YEC) and its contractors have the potential to impact the environment throughout all activities
• Mitigation measures will be taken to minimize those impacts
• YEC will maintain a high standard of environmental responsibility

Contractors, when working on YEC Projects, are an extension of YEC. It is also the contractors Environmental Policy

Environmental Policy and Environmental Management System

• Mission statements:
  • Yukon Energy will maintain a high standard of environmental responsibility through the implementation of an environmental management system
  • YEC recognizes its responsibility to protect the environment
  • Commits to act in an environmentally responsible manner
• Please read through the environmental policy:

Yukon Energy Environmental Management System

• An EMS is a tool to systematically assess if our environmental policy is implemented.
• Our EMS identifies corporate targets, aspects of our work and their potential environmental impacts
• It outlines how we are to communicate, document and record issues that pertain to the environment
• The overall aim is to improve the company’s environmental performance
• The EMS allows us to rank aspects of our operations according to their potential to impact the environment. The higher ranked aspects will have developed work practices.
• Work practices are guidelines and best practices to conduct the work with having minimal impact to the environment.
• The EMS keeps all documents together so we can check the systems performance and continuously improve.

Lesson 2: Responsibilities: Employer, contractor, employee, supervisor

All employees have the responsibility to;

• Work in an environmentally responsible way
• Make sure others are working in an environmentally responsible way
• Prevent pollution, of air, land or water.
• Report any environmental destruction or hazardous material release to the environment
• Be competent to perform their work

Site supervisors have the responsibility to;

• Ensure a tailboard is done that considers environmental hazards as well as Health and safety hazards. Please document environmental hazards on the tailboard as well mitigation measures.
• Identify with employees how to prevent or minimize potential environmental hazards
• Ensure that subcontractors are aware of their environmental responsibilities and are competent to do the work.
• Ensure subcontractors complete the YEC Health and Safety and Environmental Orientation.
• Ensure that there is a spill response plan onsite (Click here to read the Yukon Spill Response Plan. This plan can also be printed if the contractor does not have their own adequate Spill Response Plan). If the contractor uses their own spill response plan, it needs to be reviewed by YEC before it is implemented on site.

If you are the project manager and plan to use your own spill response plan, please send the spill response plan to: Shannon.mallory@yec.yk.ca or Travis.ritchie@yec.yk.ca.

Lesson 3: Regulatory Awareness and Compliance

As a contractor for Yukon Energy you are responsible for:

• Knowing which laws, regulations, approvals or permits that relate to the work you are doing for YEC.
• Complying with all applicable laws and regulations for the project.
• Understanding any regulation or permit that relates to your work.
• Keeping permits or authorizations that are associated with the job on site at all times. It can be in the jobsite trailer, or in a truck. Everyone must know where it is.

Supervisors/Project managers are responsible for:

• Knowing about all regulations or permits associated with the job
• Discussing all regulations/permits with all employees
• Complying with applicable laws and regulations. Failure to do so can result in prosecution and imprisonment.
• Inspection and enforcement personnel may come to inspect the worksite if there is a permit on the job.
• Inspectors may give you direction. Comply with their direction then tell YEC project manager.

Lesson 4: Energy and Resource Efficiency

It is important to conserve energy and reduce waste.

• Consider using resources as efficiently as possible.
• Consider whether you need to use the materials or not.
• Reduce your energy use.

Idling:

• Do not idle beyond what is necessary for your vehicle to run safely. From -10 to -25 idle your vehicle no more than 5-10 minutes.
• Contractors that are working on YEC projects and sites are greatly encouraged to minimize idling vehicles and equipment when it is not essential.
• Produces unnecessary emissions of greenhouse gases like CO2, and also reduces air quality.
• Wastes fuel.
• Damages vehicle engines as the engine is not working at full combustion.

Energy and Resource Efficiency

• While working for Yukon Energy, it is important for contractors and staff to be energy efficient.
• Turn lights off and other electrical equipment when not in use.

Lesson 5: Waste Management and recycling

• The contractor must provide appropriate onsite recycling and waste management. At minimum you are expected to recycle cardboard, wood, metal and plastics that are generated on-site.
• Waste and recycling needs to be regularly removed from site in order to prevent attracting animals or crowding the worksite
• Contractors are responsible for ensuring waste is disposed of at an approved facility in accordance with the law.
• The City of Whitehorse has introduced fees for unsorted materials that are collected and disposed of at the landfill.
• Download the City of Whitehorse What Goes Where app here.

Lesson 6: Hazardous Material and special substances

• Hazardous materials must be suitably located on site to prevent and minimize any releases or contamination. SDS sheets must be kept on site for every product that is used on the site.

Fuelling

• Refuelling must be conducted at least 30m away from waterways including storm sewer systems or environmentally sensitive areas.
• Ensure personnel is present during fuelling.
• Ensure written standard operating procedures, work practices or guidelines are in place during fuelling activities.
• Communicate fuelling procedures to all onsite personnel.
• Keep adequate quantities of spill response equipment near fuelling areas.
• Use secondary containment at all times when refueling. Use a spill tray under the fuel hose connection. A sorbent pad is acceptable under small hand held equipment.

Storage

• All fuel containers need to be put in a secondary containment when stored.
• Ensure fluids and lubricants have good lids that are well sealed, clearly marked and out of the way of traffic.
• All heavy equipment, trucks with slip tanks and equipment left on site must have spill kits on them.
• Spill kits must be kept near fuel storage areas.

Special Substances

• Removing asbestos, has special requirements.
• Use of metal based coatings.
• Radioactive materials.

Will there be any special substances on your job? Radioactive materials, asbestos, anything beyond regular products kept on site. If so, further conversation with the YEC Environment Department is required.

Lesson 7: Land Use and Tenure

• Sometimes work on YEC projects is done on public or private lands, such as First Nations Lands, Yukon Government Lands or Federal Lands.
• In these cases, a permit is required to conduct the work.
• Clearing activities need authorization from a regulatory authority, depending on what land the work is being conducted.
• If there is a permit, understand the requirements of the permit.
• Please contact the YEC project manager for further information on land use permits and requirements.

Lesson 8: Terrestrial and aquatic environments

• Be aware that there is wildlife all around, even in industrial settings.
• It is against the law to feed animals.
• Secure biodegradables so that animals are not attracted to site.

• Equipment must be serviced (fuelling up or adding oil) at least 30m away from a water course.
• Minimize the disturbance during excavation and while crossing creeks. Identify if you are in spawning habitat and in within the work timing window table below.

• Identify whether it is a high erosion area, where sediment could be calving into creeks.
• Prevent any sediment going into waterways as it can choke out fish.
• Use sediment barriers if sediment may fall into waterways.
• Think about the site and if there is a possibility that there could be a lot of runoff into a nearby waterway, in the event of heavy rainfall, for example.

Lesson 9: Site Management

• Slash burn smoke drifting toward residential areas. Before you burn, note wind direction and weather conditions.
• Back up alarms on equipment. Do not work through the night with backup alarms in residential areas.
• Control the tracking of dirt around the worksite into the air and onto adjacent areas.

• Keep the worksite free from accumulations of debris or waste.
• Inadequate set-up and management of a construction site can have potential adverse impacts on the environment as well as Health and Safety.

Lesson 10: Heritage and culture

• Surface heritage sites may include old structures, high caches and old camps or any object directly related to the culture and history of Yukon First Nations.
• Paleontological sites may include fossils, bones, of mammoth, horse, bison or other ice age animals.

• Stop work and let YEC know. YEC will call Yukon Government and confirm if it is a paleontological or historical find of worth.
• Take a GPS coordinate of the find.
• Do not disturb the site.
• Wait until you have confirmation to continue work or to modify the worksite. If something is found, then YEC can modify the work site or excavate the finding, according to direction from YG.

• You may find people out on the land recreating, hunting/fishing . Be courteous.

Lesson 11: Emergency Response and reporting

Hazardous spills

• The site supervisor or project manager must review the spill plan documents with all workers. This must be done at the first tailboard meeting.
• Make sure everyone knows what to do in the event of a spill. Everyone knows where the spill kits are located
• Spill reporting is mandatory – call SCC (393-5324) as soon as it is safe to do so after a spill has occurred.

• Where is the spill?
• What was spilled?
• Are there any injuries?
• Do you need help, or additional resources to contain the spill?
  • In addition to SCC, Spills must be reported to the Yukon Spill Report Line if over the threshold.
  • Failure to report a spill could result in enforcement action against those responsible

• Spill reporting is not about blame. It is important for YEC to get the information to be able to adequately clean up the spill. It will also give YEC data about any possible future effects on the environment.

Wildlife

• Report any encounters or wildlife death to SCC. They can give you the number to the local Conservation Officer.

Lesson 12: Communications and Contacts

• When an employee/contractor arrives on site, they must contact the site operator or supervisor to inform them, and sign into the site.
• The employee/contractor must sign onto a tailboard before starting work.
• When entering the main Whitehorse building, the contractor must sign in at the front desk.
• Do not start work before signing in and alerting the site supervisor at any site.
• Make sure you have a tour of the worksite before starting work.

Thank you.

Thanks for taking the time to complete this orientation; and, for your commitment to the evnironment, health and safety.

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