Safety on the menu at barbecue

Alocal homebuilders’ group was serving up a barbecue lunch with a healthy side of workplace safety information. The Canadian Home Builders Association Lethbridge Region, Lethbridge Construction Association and Lethbridge Regional Safety Committee held their third annual safety awareness barbecue on Thursday.

In addition to a free lunch, representatives from Atco Gas, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, Lethbridge Fire Department, Park Enterprises Inspection Services, Fortis Alberta, Occupational Health and Safety and Gateway Safety Services were in attendance with demonstrations and tips ensuring safe work practices.

Troy Hicks from the City of Lethbridge Fire Prevention office was on hand to speak about fire safety on construction sites and in vehicles. He was also providing hands-on training on proper fire extinguisher use as well as advice on fire extinguisher maintenance.

Hicks said the biggest issue the fire department sees is a lack of awareness when it comes to fire extinguisher safety and usage.

“People go out and they try to be productive, and they have fire extinguishers on their worksite and in their vehicles, and once they put them in there, they leave them in there,” he said. “They’re not paying attention to make sure it’s maintained and not damaged.”

Hicks said it is important for people to ensure their extinguishers are serviced yearly.

“Eventually, when it is needed, you want to make sure it works,” he said.

The Canadian Home Builders Association Lethbridge Region has made safety a component of membership since 2010 and has led the provincial arm of the Association toward province-wide compliance.

Erin Low, Executive Director of the Lethbridge Construction Association, said one issue which often comes up on construction sites involves safety for workers who are working from dangerous heights.

“We have a lot of workers on top of buildings and on the sides of buildings,” she said. “That’s always a safety concern. Especially with the wind in southern Alberta.”

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Herald photo by Tijana Martin @TMartinHerald Samantha Brown, safety co-ordinator with Stuart Olson, quizzes her guys on which setup is correct to use for an anchor on a roof during the third annual Safety BBQ at the Lethbridge Construction Association’s office on Thursday.