Infracon, formerly known as LNB Construction, is keeping worker safety top of mind, and looks to highlight the importance of education and awareness around the topic.

The civil construction and industrial services group has gone over 1 million hours since its last lost time incident and has never suffered a fatality, despite Statistics Canada ranking construction as Canada’s fourth most dangerous occupation. The reason for this is awareness and active participation by all involved, says Wade Roberts, health and safety manager for Infracon.

“Each and every worker goes through an orientation process at Infracon, prior to getting mobilized to any work site,” said Roberts. “Once they get to the work site, they are orientated again, and then we start our hazard management process on the ground.”

Infracon says this orientation process ensures workers have concise and accurate information, providing a safer working environment for all, in an industry that can be hazardous to workers. According to WorkSafeBC, “general construction” was the industry subsector that had the most claims of lost time incidents for the past two years.

Highlighting awareness of possible hazards on work sites using readily available technology has led Infracon to more than 12 years since a lost time incident, says Roberts.

“We’re identifying tasks, hazards, and controls prior to work commencing using a system called SiteDocs. It’s readily available to all workers on their phones and laptops.”

Electronic hazard management systems allow workers to communicate details about the worksite, their tasks, and possible safety issues to each other and their employer. According to Roberts, the COVID-19 pandemic has generally not been one of those issues.

“Personnel followed all requirements on every work site accordingly, so our operations were not overall affected by the pandemic. Day to day it may have slowed, but we were status quo for the most part.”

According to WorkSafeBC, informed workers are confident ones, and stresses the importance of training and orientation to prevent injury, illness, and death on the job. Canada’s National Day of Mourning, which looks to honour those who have been injured or killed while working, brings this topic to the forefront for employers.

“The National Day of Mourning is a real indication and reminder for every person on the field that it can happen to you. These people have suffered injury and loss to make our lives better, and allow us to be more proactive in the workforce,” added Roberts.

Looking forward, the Lower Nicola based company will continue to support its workers and their safety through education and awareness.

Those affected by an injury or death in the workplace should visit www.worksafebc.com.