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In 2021, we provided 1027 hours of health and safety training. This is lower than the total of 1510 hours in 2020 due to the ongoing pandemic.
Health and Safety Awareness and Training
The Utilities Kingston health and safety management system helps to reduce accidents and injuries, ensures safe work environments, and furthers a culture of safety.
As part of this system, management provides health and safety training. Highlights for 2021 include the following:
28
Training Sessions
1027
Hours of Participant Training
25
COVID-19
Risk Assessments,
Policies and Procedures
As always, Utilities Kingston prioritized the safety of employees throughout the pandemic. We are proud to relay there were no cases of COVID-19 attributed to workplace spread during 2021.
Making Safety the Top Priority at Kingston Worksites
The goal of the award-winning Safety Days is clear and simple: get everyone home safe every day.
While our 2021 in-person event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 100 contractors completed the mandatory health and safety expectations training, necessary to pre-qualify for quotation work. This was an increase from 68 contractors in 2020.
Our mandatory online e-Learning Safety Days program was introduced in 2021, preparing contractors for a safe construction season.
Wellness in the Workplace
Mental wellness is important to the health and safety of our workplace.
With a goal to better support wellness in the workplace, in 2021 the Guarding Minds @ Work committee continued its focus to supporting employees through the difficulties presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
With that in mind, the committee met eleven times in the year, to promote and support mental health resources and e-Learning for employees.
To mark Mental Illness Awareness Week from October 3-9, committee members each shared how they care for their mental health
Cross Bore Prevention
In 2021, we conducted 108 sewer safety inspections and did not find any cross bore occurrences.
The cross bore prevention program is a requirement from the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) that was mandated for all gas distributors in 2011. The program addresses safety precautions when clearing a blocked sewer lateral.
Utilities Kingston’s program includes communicating with plumbers and homeowners to “Call Before You Clear”. Once the call is received, staff conduct a sewer safety inspection to rule out the possibility of a sewer cross bore. Our communication and outreach program continues to increase public awareness.
Ensuring the Safety of Underground Infrastructure
6903
Locate Requests
99%
Completed Within 5 Business Days
Utilities Kingston has partnered with Ontario One Call since 2013. During 2021, Utilities Kingston responded to 6,903 locate requests. Our goal is to complete locates within five business days. We achieved this 99 per cent of the time.
We attribute the success of the Utilities Kingston program to our in-house expertise. While other utilities rely on third-party locating services, our multi-utility model affords us to employ a team of in-house damage prevention technicians.
Don’t take the risk of damaging underground infrastructure – get a free locate, it’s the law! That is the industry refrain that’s helped encourage an increase in requests to locate underground water, wastewater, natural gas, electricity and fibre infrastructure.
