Earlier this month, the CNESST (Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail) once again recognized EMD-Batimo’s efforts to prevent occupational injuries during the 2020 virtual national ceremony celebrating the annual Occupational Health and Safety Awards.
The company received the Gold Award in the Innovation—Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises category for the development of a safety device for patio doors.
EMD-Batimo had already won a regional award for the same achievement in 2019.
The CNESST Occupational Health and Safety Awards recognize employers and workers who are committed to making their workplaces safer and healthier through innovation and leadership.
Innovating to prevent accidents
On construction sites, patio doors open onto empty spaces or unprotected balconies, which exposes workers to the risk of falling from height. These doors are often unlocked to ventilate the room or bring in heavy materials. To prevent accidents, most construction sites secure patio doors by nailing or screwing wooden blocks into the frame. However, this solution is not very effective because workers have the tools to remove the blocks, which can damage the frames.
EMD-Batimo has adopted a standard practice requiring a locking device that can be fitted to all types of patio door handles in just a few minutes without causing any damage. The device is secured with a tamper-proof screw and installation key, to which only the general contractor has access. Consequently, before removing the locking device, the contractor must verify that any workers requiring access to unsecured balconies are wearing fall protection equipment.
To see the full demonstration, watch this short video, produced in 2019 for the awards ceremony where the company won first prize for this innovation:
