Cornerstone Hydro Electric Concepts
CHEC Expands its Health & Safety Support
September 24, 2018
Formalized Field Observation and Safety Talk Package available to all CHEC members
September 25, 2018 Barrie, ON – Cornerstone Hydro Electric Concepts (CHEC) is pleased to announce the formalization of the Field Observation and Safety Talk support available to its members. Previously the two services had been offered by request. With the formalization of the service, this package will further develop these offerings to become permanent, on-going resources for its members.
“We are always looking to expand the services that we offer our members,” said Taylor Mawson, CHEC Health & Safety Specialist. “We had previously identified a need for these two services and are pleased to be able to offer a formalized package.”
Safety Talks
Safety Talks, which deliver education and awareness to staff, are an important part of an LDC’s Health & Safety Management System. Providing a selection of safety talks through CHEC reduces the cost of outsourcing as well as enhancing the content delivery with a variety of topics, new information, and specialized expertise on each topic.
Previous topics included Legalization of Recreational Marijuana and Safety Implications, Lyme Disease Awareness and Tick Safety, Driving Safety – Best Practices, Changes in the Industry and the Effects on Health & Safety, and General Office Safety. These talks can also be used towards maintenance of professional designations.
“Taylor presented at a staff meeting around the issues with Marijuana in the workplace due to the upcoming changes in federal legislation,” said Tim Curtis, President of Niagara-on-the-Lake Hydro. “It was useful having an independent third party deliver this message to our LDC and keep us up-to-date on what is happening in the industry.”
Field Observations
Field observations provide LDCs with a third-party evaluation of their field operations that help to identify potential hazards, reinforce safe work practices and behaviours, and establish safety as a company priority.
“Field observations are beneficial for our LDCs to identify the areas where they are doing well and where they have opportunity for improvement,” said Mawson. “Another benefit of providing this service to all our LDCs is the ability for CHEC to identify common areas of strength and improvement across all our LDCs. It allows me to see trends that are developing and identify whether more than one LDC could benefit from further support in a given area.”
Upon completion, LDCs receive a brief, the final observation form, findings and recommendations.
ABOUT CHEC
CHEC is a collaborative association for 17 small Local Distribution Companies in Ontario. By sharing experience, knowledge and resources CHEC helps its members remain as active members of their communities, deliver value to their shareholders, provide safe, efficient, and cost effective electricity distribution to their customers, and prepare for the energy future. The current members of CHEC are Centre Wellington Hydro Ltd., Collus PowerStream, Grimsby Power, InnPower Corp., Lakefront Utilities Inc., Lakeland Power Distribution Ltd., Midland Power Utility Corp., Niagara–on- the- Lake Hydro, Orangeville Hydro Ltd., Orillia Power Corp., Ottawa River Power Corporation, Renfrew Hydro Inc., Rideau St. Lawrence Distribution Inc., Tillsonburg Hydro, Wasaga Distribution Inc., Wellington North Power Inc., and West Coast Huron Energy Inc.