WHSCCNEWS HELPING NEW BRUNswicK W ORKS AFE Volume 13, Issue 2 Fall 2007 GOOD NEWS: Trucker takes new road No Mercy Campaign t was a vision of his yet unborn baby I that brought Mario Doiron out of semi- Garners Award consciousness after a 7 ½-ton-rated hook smashed through the cab of the truck he was he WHSCC’s No Mercy campaign won third driving, and fractured his skull. The accident T place in the External Communications occurred on February 3, 2005, when Doiron was Campaign category of the American Association transferring a roll-off waste container from a flat of State Compensation Insurance Funds (AASCIF) bed onto the bed of his roll-off truck. Communications Awards, presented in Big Sky, Montana in August. The No Mercy campaign was “I could see my wife Crystal holding a baby. That’s one of 143 entries. when I woke up,” Doiron said. (Crystal Doiron was three months pregnant at the time, expecting The AASCIF Communications Awards are their first child.) Even then, Doiron wasn’t aware presented annually to member funds and boards of what had happened. “At first I thought I was from across Canada and the United Sates that having an aneurysm. It was really cold in the have addressed communications issues with truck, and I could feel the wind. That’s when I professional skill, creativity, and resourcefulness. noticed the broken glass and the blood,” he said. They are judged by a panel of independent media experts. In addition to the skull fracture and facial injuries, the accident resulted in impaired Mario Doiron “We’re thrilled that our No Mercy campaign was mobility on the left side of Doiron’s body. recognized by AASCIF, the workers’ compensation As his employer was unable to accommodate his industry’s premier professional association,” condition, Doiron and his case management team After a one-week hospital stay, Doiron began said Perley Brewer, WHSCC’s manager of client looked at alternate employment. He indicated an three months of physical rehabilitation in the consulting and education services. “And while interest in plumbing, but because of problems Miramichi, where he lives, with limited success. we’re very pleased with this honour, the real with his balance, he couldn’t get up on ladders. “I was in bad shape, and walking with a cane. I reward will be recognition of the campaign by Automotive mechanics was his second option. was having awful dizzy spells,” he said. So he our youth. If it resonates with them, grabs their Doiron enrolled in the one-year automotive was sent to the WHSCC’s Workers Rehabilitation attention and makes them think about working service technician program at the New Brunswick Centre in Grand Bay-Westfield, where he spent safely, then we will have done what we set out to Community College’s Bathurst campus, and 13½ weeks in a work recovery program, with a do. That is really all the recognition we need,” graduated with honours – an 89.2 average. traumatic brain injury multidisciplinary team. Brewer said. “Mario was the model client. He participated “They (staff at WRC) helped me get my strength “While no injuries are acceptable, the loss of actively with his physical rehabilitation plan and and control back in my arm and leg, although continued to do so through to its successful ...Continued on page 2 there was nothing they could do about my completion. He is the one who really made dizziness.” it happen!” said his case manager, Maurice IMPORTANT DATE: St-Pierre. “He was left with some work After returning from the WRC, Doiron tried to restrictions but those were much less severe than th return to driving truck as part of a desensitization one would have expected at the beginning of this and gradual return-to-work program. “Driving ANNUAL WHSCC claim, once again mainly because of his high level trucks is something I always wanted to do. I HEALTH AND SAFETY of participation in rehab,” St-Pierre said. enjoyed being on the road; it was almost like CONFERENCE being my own boss,” he said. But his truck What motivated him to persevere through the driving days were over. “I tried driving a few October 14-16, 2007 rehab, going back to school and the physical pain times, but my head just didn’t feel right. I would Delta Brunswick Hotel, Saint John, N.B. and uncertainty of future employment was come to a stop sign, and it seemed to be jiggling.” ...Continued on page 3 See page 3 for more information. 1 IN THE COURTS Maple Leaf Homes was charged under section As a millwright, part of Williams’s job is to 9(1)(a) of the OHS Act for failing to take ensure that the mill’s machines are properly reasonable precautions to ensure the health maintained, and to prompt any necessary repairs. and safety of workers in relation to the safe On September 13, Williams was behind a finger design and use of a plumbing jig (no engineer jointer when he heard the cutting heads slowing approval). The charge was a result of an accident down. Without taking any of the required steps that occurred August 21, 2006 at their plant to de-energize the jointer as required by law, when a plumbing jig toppled over and struck Williams opened the access door in the jointer to an employee. Maple Leaf Homes pleaded guilty check the drive belts. (Williams did not even take and was fined $4,000, plus a victim surcharge of the insufficient measure that may have prevented $800. the accident by telling the jointer operator that he was going to check the belt tension.) When the At the time of the accident, Maple Leaf Homes cutting heads came to a stop, Williams reached took immediate action, conducted a thorough into the machine to check the belt tension. While investigation on its own, and made required his hand was in the machine, which was unknown modifications to the jig. In addition, the company to the operator, the machine was powered up sent all its supervisors for additional safety again and Williams’s hand was pulled into the training. machine. Award : Continued from page 1 life or limb is all the more unacceptable when it A lawyer for Maple Leaf Homes said the design J.D. Irving Ltd., was charged under section comes to our young workers, who are just and construction of the plumbing jig was 242(3) of General Regulation 91-191 of the beginning to make their way in the world,” he contracted out, and Maple Leaf Homes had OHS Act for failing to install a guard on a planer said. assumed engineering expertise would be brought saw at their sawmill in Kedgwick. The charge was to bear on the project. laid after an accident in November 2005, in which “The concept behind No Mercy is simple – the a worker sustained serious injuries when he machinery and materials you work with will show was struck in the face by a piece of lumber. The no mercy if you skip steps and cut corners when John Williams, a millwright with Grand Lake worker suffered what is called a LeFort I fracture, it comes to safety,” said Mary Tucker, WHSCC’s Timber, pleaded guilty to a charge under section defined as a horizontal fracture occurring at the communications manager. “And young people 239(5) of General Regulation 91-191 of the base of the upper jawbone above the highest should take a no mercy approach to getting the OHS Act, and was fined $300, plus a victim point of the teeth. training supervision and protective equipment surcharge of $60. The charges were laid after an they need to do their job safely,” she said. accident in which Williams lost the tip of his right JDI pleaded guilty and was fined $5,000, plus a index finger. victim surcharge of $1,000. • The No Mercy campaign was launched in March, in conjunction with the Smart Risk HEROES “Be Smart. Be Safe” tour. The WHSCC, along with the Insurance Bureau of Canada and the New Board member profile: Ron Hyson Brunswick Safety Council sponsored the tour, ith a background in construction and He replaces Fraser MacLeod, whose term expired which was viewed by close to 10,000 students. manufacturing, and more than 10 years February 25. Following the show, students were shown the No W experience in human resources and safety, Ron Mercy video, an introduction to the WHSCC’s new Hyson is sure to prove a valuable asset to the “I’m proud and excited to have been asked to YouthSafe website. Other campaign components WHSCC’s board of directors. Hyson is acutely sit on the board, and to help work toward what include branded give-aways, kits for teachers, aware of the distressing consequences of I believe is the goal of all employers – zero and two No Mercy posters. The “cut” and “burn” workplace injuries. “I have personal experience accidents,” Hyson said. “And that starts with posters show the aftermath of the workplace dealing with injured workers and their families,” changing the mindset of employers and workers injuries depicted in the animated No Mercy Hyson said. “Having to call a family member after alike. There’s no such thing as an accident that’s videos. a serious injury is something you hope to never not preventable. Every time someone is injured or have to do. It affects you physically, mentally and there’s a near-miss, we must work to understand To see what caught the judges’ eyes, go to: emotionally,” he said.