Joe Redshaw, Director of Social Services

I am pleased to inform members that Local 793 is participating in a very important study that will help determine if there’s a link between diesel fume exposure and diabetes and heart disease among heavy equipment operators.
As part of the study, questionnaires are being mailed this fall to approximately 6,500 union members aged 45 and older.
I encourage all members who get a questionnaire to fill it out and return it to the study team as the results will help us better understand the impact of diesel exhaust exposure on our members.
The questionnaire will seek answers to such things as whether or not members have ever been diagnosed with diabetes,
angina, a heart attack, or stroke.
A major element of the questionnaire will be the collection of information about personal risk factors like weight, smoking and cholesterol. All the information that is collected will be kept confidential.
To better characterize exposures, members of the study team will also be collecting and analyzing personal exposure samples from members operating diesel-powered construction equipment.
In the end, the results will help researchers determine if there is a solid connection between diabetes and heart disease and diesel exhaust exposure. There is some very compelling evidence to suggest there is a link.
A previous study showed that heavy equipment operators in Ontario had ischemic heart disease mortality rates that were 32 per cent higher than other types of construction workers.
Another study showed that heavy equipment operators in Ontario were significantly more likely to die from diabetes than other construction workers. However, neither of the previous studies had data to control for confounders such as smoking or obesity. Consequently, a questionnaire will be used to determine whether these increased disease rates are attributable to occupational or personal risk factors.
Local 793 is supporting this project because we’re interested in the health and safety of our members. This study will help further our understanding of the impact of diesel exhaust exposure.
The study is being conducted by principal investigator Dr. Murray Finkelstein, an associate professor at McMaster University in Hamilton and a medical consultant with the Ontario Ministry of Labour. Co-investigator is Dr. Dave Verma, an occupational hygienist and professor at McMaster.
The study is funded by a $217,200 grant from the research advisory council of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). The package being sent out to members will include the questionnaire, an introductory letter and a postage-paid return envelope. If the findings confirm increased disease rates attributable to diesel exhaust exposure, then workplace parties and prevention partners will take vigorous steps to find prevention solutions.
The Construction Safety Association of Ontario, the Ministry of Labour and the WSIB have all agreed to publish results of the study. It is important to note that in order for the study to be successful we need our members to complete and return the questionnaires.

CRANE SAFETY
I’d like to remind members that inspectors from the Ministry of Labour are paying special attention to tower cranes this year. Chris Beatson of the Ministry of Labour told a crane and concrete pump safety seminar at Local 793’s head office in June that inspectors are looking at tower cranes in each region. The move is in response to blitzes in Ottawa and Toronto that revealed a number of problems with tower cranes.
Inspectors found such things as missing operator manuals and improper or missing lock pins. On one occasion, they found some of the bolts connecting the operator’s cab to the turntable were missing. The inspections also found crane cables spooled improperly, electrical hazards, fuses bypassed and fall protection issues like missing guardrails and unguarded chains and pulleys.
On the engineering side of things, inspectors found fraudulent documentation regarding the setup of cranes.

ELECTION
As a final note, I would like to congratulate business manager Mike Gallagher and the team for a successful election campaign.
I would also like to thank members for re-electing me as treasurer.