Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Safety: Moulds

With wet weather upon us be on the look out for Moulds. They can be toxic and should be handled with care and caution.


More and more firms are involved in removing toxicmoulds from contaminated buildings.
This section explains:

• what moulds are
• where they are found
• why they are of concern
• what health effects they may cause
• how they can be identified
• how they can be safely removed.

This section also covers the obligations of employers and others under Ontarioʼs Occupational Health and Safety Act.

What are moulds?

Moulds are microorganisms that produce thousands of tiny particles called spores as part of their reproductive cycle. Mould colonies are usually visible as colourful, woolly growths. They can be virtually any colour – red, blue, brown, green, white, or black. When disturbed by air movement or handling, moulds release their spores into the air. Given the right environmental conditions, these spores can go on to form other mould colonies.

Where are moulds found?

Moulds can be found almost anywhere outdoors and indoors. Indoor moulds usually originate from outside sources such as soil and vegetation. Moulds love dark, moist environments and can grow at room temperature on various construction materials including wallpaper, particleboard, ceiling tiles, drywall, and plywood. Workers can be exposed to toxic spores when working on buildings with some sort of water damage from flooding, plumbing leaks, or leaks in the structure itself.

Why are moulds of concern?

In buildings with water damage or ongoing moisture problems, certain types of “water-loving” moulds may reproduce to higher than normal levels and potentially cause adverse health effects. Stachybotrys chartarum (formerly known as Stachybotrys atra) is of particular concern because it can be found in large colonies and can cause adverse health effects. Stachybotrys has gained special attention because it has been discovered in portable classrooms with ongoing moisture problems. It appears as small black patches and grows well on water-soaked cellulose material such as wallpaper, ceiling tiles, drywall, and insulation containing paper. In addition to Stachybotrys, personnel working in water-damaged buildings may be exposed to other types of toxic moulds such as Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium.

What health effects can moulds cause?

Air movement and the handling of contaminated material can release toxic spores into the atmosphere. These spores cause adverse health effects by producing toxic substances known as mycotoxins. Once released, toxic spores must come into contact with the skin or be inhaled before symptoms can develop. Not all exposed workers will develop symptoms.

to read the rest of this PDF that includes a Mould Remediation Chart click here

Friday, March 22, 2013

Trades Alberta: Keeping workforce young motivates employer to hire apprentices and high school students

Trades Alberta: Keeping workforce young motivates employer to hire apprentices and high school students

Pro-V Manufacturing LP President Greg Prinsen, left, and apprentice Gary Anderson at the manufacturing shop in Edmonton. Prinsen is quite active in hiring apprentices and Registered Apprentice Program students in Edmonton.

Photograph by: JASON FRANSON , Edmonton Journal

 

As president of Pro-V Manufacturing LP, Greg Prinsen sees first-hand the many benefits to hiring apprentices at his firm.

There are advantages when it comes to succession — “we always have some youth coming through the company,” he says — and in the loyalty that is built over three- and four-year apprentice terms.

Pro-V, a firm recently acquired by the Supreme Group that specializes in manufacturing, construction and maintenance, has about 220 employees working at its facilities in Acheson Industrial Park in Parkland County, west of Edmonton. That number includes 47 apprentices and three high school students enrolled in the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) in welding and pipe trades.

“The whole industry in general has to hire apprentices to keep our workforce young,” Prinsen said. “We do have an aging workforce and we need to train some of these young people to become good tradespeople.”

In 2012, more than 60,000 registered apprentices trained at about 14,000 employer sites around Alberta. They spend about 80 per cent of their apprenticeship on the job, learning from a certified journeyperson, and the other 20 per cent receiving technical training at a post-secondary institution.

To read more click here for link to article

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Some Apprenitceships available in Western Ontario


Job# Trade
City 
#  level
12753 Truck & Coach Tech in Listowel x 1 2yr
12746 Horticultural Techn in Kitchener x 2 0yr
12744 Heavy Duty Equip. Tech. in Hamilton  x 2 1yr
12739 Tire Wheel & Rim Mech. in Stoney Creek x 1 0yr
12734 General Machinist in Waterloo x 1 3yr
12733 Tool & Die Maker in Waterloo x 1 3yr
12731 Industrial Electrician in Kitchener x 1 4yr
12716 Plumber in Waterdown  x 1 2nd -3rd
12628 Hoisting Engineer in Hamilton  x 1 1yr
12625 Heavy Duty Equip. Tech. in Hamilton  x 1 1yr



To apply to these jobs and more sign into your account or register and apply at  apprenticesearch.com

Friday, March 1, 2013

Safety: PROPANE

PROPANE

INTRODUCTION

Packaged under pressure, propane gas presents three hazards if misused:

1. high flammability and explosive potential
2. displacement of breathable air in confined spaces (also, being heavier than air, propane will collect in low areas)
3. contact injury from accidental exposure to a substance under high pressure.

Physical Characteristics

Propane or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a by-product of petroleum or natural gas refining
which is packaged under pressure in cylinders. In its stored state it is a liquid but is released from the cylinder or tank in a gaseous form. The boiling point of propane, the point at which the liquid converts to a gas, is -42.2°C (-44°F). If the surrounding air temperature is above this, gas will form in the upper part of the cylinder.

The pressure within the container is variable depending on the temperature to which the container is exposed. The pressure increases as the temperature rises, causing expansion of the liquid. For this reason containers are never fully charged with liquid, but have a vapour space at the top of the tank to allow for normal expansion.

Should the temperature rise above safe limits, a relief valve will open to allow release of the gas in a measured amount. This release is generally over in seconds. The valve reseals and remains closed until the pressure builds up again. Cylinder relief valves are set at 2585.5 kPa (375 lb per square inch)......

Safe Handling of Cylinders

In construction, most propane applications dispense the fuel in a vapour form. For this reason, it is essential that portable cylinders be transported, stored, and used in an upright position. Propane liquid must never come in contact with the cylinder relief valve. If liquid escapes through the valve, large volumes of gas will be released.

The simplest way to avoid the problem is to fasten cylinders in an  upright position with rope, wire, or other means. When transporting by truck, take extra care to
keep cylinders upright and stationary.

Cylinders should not be transported in an automobile trunk or in a closed van. Escaping gas can collect in a confined space and create an explosive atmosphere, as well as threaten life by displacing breathable air.

Store cylinders safely on the jobsite. They should be stored in a separate compound out of traffic areas and where they are in no danger of being struck by falling materials or moving equipment. A simple compound can be constructed using a length of snow fence and a few Tbars. When properly constructed, this barrier provides a means of tying up the cylinders as well as controlling stock. Empty cylinders should be stored on one side, full on the other. Don't mix the cylinders.

The compound should not be close to an area where flammable liquids such as gasoline and diesel fuel are stored. Only cylinders that are in use should be inside a building. (“In use” means hooked up to a construction heater or other appliance.)..........

to read more of this 4 page document please download here

for other great information about Skilled Trade Apprenticeships goto our website www.apprenticesearch.com