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Comfort Zone - August 2021

The August 2021 edition of the all-Canadian Health, Wellness, and Safety Newsletter is here!  Inside this month’s issue you'll find articles on ergonomics, how to avoid heat illness, arc flash safety, tips for returning to work and much more.  Have a read!

Hay River Social Committee Golf Event

The Hay River Social Club hit the links on July 9. There were howls of laughter, expressions of glee, and even some touches of madness as golfers vied for longest putt, longest drive, closest to the pin and trying to get that [insert choice words here] little white ball into the hole. There were some beautiful views to be had too, in between drives and socializing.

The evening finished off with a BBQ and drinks in the clubhouse. There were burgers and smokies to be had and some people even took home prizes!

Not a bad way to kick off events again! Thank you to everyone who came out and made this a successful event!

 

The Social Committee is excited to be planning events again: check out our upcoming events here! 

Health & Safety Statistics Report - 2021-22 Q1

The 2021/22 Q1 Health & Safety Statistics Report is available here.  It has lots of great information on incidents, injuries, and concern reports - check it out!

Updated COVID-19 Safe Work Practices

Our suite of COVID-19 Safe Work Practices (SWP) has been updated.  The table below contains a summary of key changes.  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 1.32: COVID-19 Prevention & Control
  • Archived  Form 1.32.1: COVID-19 Self-Monitoring
    • Workers are still required to self-monitor and avoid the worksite if experiencing symptoms, but they no longer have to track symptoms on a form
SWP 1.33: Working in Plants & Communities During Pandemic
  • Reworked Section 8.2: Isolation Process for Out-of-Territory Contractors
    • Simplified and clarified process to reflect and point to the current ProtectNWT process
    • Admin Services now manages this process
    • Archived Form 1.33.3a: COVID-19 Contractor Safety Plan – Non-Exemption as wWorkers in isolation do not need a plan for onsite work (they are not onsite); once isolation is complete they go to the worksite and follow NTPC SWPs
  • Created Section 8.3: Exemption Process for Out-of-Territory Contractors
    • Simplified and clarified process to reflect and point to the current ProtectNWT process
    • Admin Services now manages this process
  • Archived Form 1.33.3c: Community Emergency Maintenance Process
    • This form is not required; the precautions to protect our workers while in communities are already covered in SWP 1.33: Working in Plants & Communities During Pandemic
  • Now allow workers visiting a community to work in same vehicle or building as the Plant Superintendent, as long as 2 m physical distancing and mask use rules are followed (sections 8.9, 8.10) 
  • Now allow limited interaction with communities (section 8.10)
SWP 1.33.1 Form: Accommodation Cleaning
  • No change
SWP 1.33.2 Form: Building & Vehicle Entry Log
  • No change
SWP 1.33.3 Form: Application for Permission to Work
  • Renumbered from 1.33.3e
  • Improved form to reflect current process
  • Added checkbox for exemption request
SWP 1.33.4 Form: Self-Isolation Plan Instructions
  • Renumbered from 1.33.3d
  • Improved form to reflect current process
  • Form now provided by Admin Services to contractor workers to develop their Self-Isolation Plan
SWP 1.33.5 Form: Contractor Self-Isolation Exemption Plan
  • Renumbered from 1.33.3b
  • Improved form to reflect current process
  • Two levels of approval (Ops Director and COO, but no longer requires CEO approval)
  • Stakeholders advised of approved plan
SWP 1.34: Working at Hydro Sites During Pandemic
  • No significant changes
SWP 1.35: Working in Offices During Pandemic
  • Removed requirement for masks in offices
    • Masks still required where 2 m distancing cannot be maintained
    • No masks needed for transient interactions (e.g., passing in a hallway) (section 8.6)
    • Mask required and when an office owner requests visitors to wear a mask (section 8.6)
SWP 1.35.1 Form: Worksite Entry Plan
  • No change

 

National Lineworker Appreciation Day

July 10 has been dedicated as National Lineworker Day in Canada for the past couple of years. Lineworkers are the public face of the electricity industry, often working to restore or maintain power in difficult and hazardous conditions.

Thank you to all of our PLTs for the important role you play in keeping the lights on in communities all across the NWT.