Friday, September 26, 2025

The Value of Safety

Your safety is valuable, and you play a role in preserving it

By Angela Horton, Team Lead, Health & Safety, BC

Picture a construction site.

It’s Friday at 2 p.m. after a long week. Jason has been on the same worksite for the last three years and knows the site’s surroundings like the back of his hand.

There is a subcontractor on site operating a crane. They have been moving rebar all day, and Jason notices they are now moving the load through the same area where the crew normally walks through to get to the office for lunch.

Jason thinks there shouldn’t be anyone heading up that way right now, so it might be fine, and workers could probably squeeze around it if they had to. The crane operator should be done in the next 45 minutes anyway. They are subcontracted and it’s not like it’s someone from Jason's crew. He contemplates what to do and decides to tell his super just in case. The super immediately contacts the general contractor and thanks Jason for spotting a hazard and raising it up.

A positive safety culture is reinforced in moments like this—when you feel comfortable speaking up when something feels unsafe.

Workers have the right to be aware of hazards, be involved in health and safety activities, and the right to refuse unsafe work. If you are unsure about your rights as a worker, talk to your supervisor, CLAC representative, or check out your provincial health and safety regulator's website.

· Roles, rights & responsibilities - WorkSafeBC

· Young worker rights and responsibilities | Alberta.ca

· Duties and Rights of Workers | Rights and Responsibilities in the Workplace | Government of Saskatchewan

CLAC Training West offers numerous courses that can help you stay safe on site. If you currently work for a CLAC signatory that remits to a training fund in Alberta, British Columbia, or Saskatchewan, here are just a few of the courses that are available at no charge to current CLAC members:

· CSTS 2020

· Behavior Based Safety

· WHMIS

· Pipeline Construction Safety Training (PCST)

· Electrical Safety Training Systems (ESTS)

· Drug and Alcohol Awareness

· Standard/Intermediate First Aid

You may forget that the realm of safety expands into mental health and psychological safety. Mental health on the worksite is equally as important as the physical hazards you may run into. The Mental Health Commission of Canada states that 30 percent of short- and long-term disability claims in Canada are related to mental health problems/illnesses. For more information on Workplace Mental Health, check out this link: Workplace Mental Health - Mental Health Commission of Canada. You can also head to CLAC’s webpage for mental health, substance use, and wellness supports.

CLAC also offers Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) that provides you with resources to support those experiencing a decline in their mental health well-being. This training can be used both inside and outside of work. Blended options that are fully online/virtual are available along with in-person training at one of our member centres. Contact trainingwest@clac.ca or 1-888-700-7555 for more information on training options and course fees.

Your safety is beyond valuable, and you play a role in preserving it. Your union, your employer, and your family all want you to come home safe after work and to be able to enjoy the more significant aspects of life.

The Value of Safety

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