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Comfort Zone - October 2021

The October 2021 edition of the all-Canadian Health, Wellness, and Safety Newsletter is here!  Inside this month’s issue you'll find articles on how to prepare for fire emergencies, mental health, winter tires, unsafe acts, Halloween safety tips and much more.  Have a read!

Bingo!

AND THE WINNERS ARE……..
               The Number 7 – TIFFANY DEMARCKE!
               The Blackout – EDDIE SMITH!
               Honourable mention – DOUG PRENDERGAST!


And in Bingo you always have to get a line but, we had no submissions by cut off so we did it Bingo style; first one to submit a line a pictures, wins. The only submission received was…..Eddie Smith! He submitted a line of different pictures from his blackout and after careful consideration among the judges (and given his was the only submission) we’ve decided that he is the winner of the line as well!

Some of you may, at this point, be asking what this is all about: Hay River Social Committee organized a little activity to keep the COVID blues away while staying safe and following all SWPs. Folks were invited to enter a line, 7 or blackout bingo card to win a prize. Check out the attachment for photos from Bingo submissions - some of your coworkers make a guest appearance!

If anyone has suggestions as to any COVID friendly activities they’d like to see in Hay River, please reach out to any member of the Social Committee. Look out for fun activities coming to you next month!

Updated COVID-19 Safe Work Practices 1.33, 1.34

Safe Work Practice 1.33: Working in Plants & Communities During Pandemic and Safe Work Practice 1.34: Working at Hydro Sites During Pandemic have been updated to require COVID-19 testing in certain situations (see table below). 

All NTPC employees and contractors are required to abide by the current versions of these documents, found on PowerLine.  Please review the documents that pertain to your field of duties.

Document

Key Changes
SWP 1.33: Working in Plants & Communities During Pandemic
  • Added Section 8.7: Routine COVID-19 Testing
    • Antigen (rapid) testing required before travelling from a large community with community transmission to a small community
    • Antigen testing required before travelling from a small community with community transmission to another community
    • Antigen testing required for entry into certain communities (community government requirements)
  • Added Section 8.14: Mask Requirements
    • Workers in communities experiencing community transmission shall wear KN95 masks when physical distancing is not possible
SWP 1.34: Working at Hydro Sites During Pandemic
  • Added Section 8.10: Routine COVID-19 Testing
    • Antigen (rapid) testing required before travelling from large community with community transmission to a hydro site
    • Weekly antigen testing for all staff at site
    • Twice-weekly antigen testing when more than 20 workers onsite
    • For after-hours emergency work antigen testing required at the earliest opportunity
    • Food preparation contractors and contractors under exemption require PCR testing before going to site
  • Added Section 8.11: When a Worker Tests Positive for COVID-19
    • Details process that will be followed in terms of testing and isolation, coordination with Public Health
    • Reference to Exposure Control Plan (to be finalized shortly)
  • Added Section 8.12: Mask Requirements
    • Workers at hydro sites shall wear KN95 masks when physical distancing is not possible

 

New: Exposure Control Plan for Snare Hydro

A written plan is now available for use in case of a COVID-19 outbreak at the Snare Hydro site: SWP 1.34.1 Form - Exposure Control Plan - Snare Hydro.  Any workers travelling to and working at Snare Hydro are required to be familiar with this plan - if you are included in this group, please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with it.

New Streetlights in Fort Resolution

One of the lesser known services NTPC provides is the installation and maintenance of street lights. The Hamlet of Fort Resolution approached us earlier this year seeking streetlights in areas that previously had none.

A line crew from our South Slave T & D team travelled to the community recently and installed 23 new poles and 17 new LED streetlights. LEDs require less power, less maintenance and cause less light pollution than traditional streetlights.

The nights are not as dark in Fort Resolution as they were a week ago.