Ask the Safety Expert

May 2012 Article

Impaired driving:  How many people drive under an impairment and don’t even realize it?  There are many times I’m sure you drive when you are too tired (90% of Canadians have sleep dept), or after taking prescription or nonprescription medication.  Did you realize if your driving is impaired by these things you can still be charged?  This can be a huge problem. Much of the medication out there says may cause drowsiness or do not operate a motor vehicle while taking this medication.  How many of you readers have ever gotten behind the wheel and just thought, what can go wrong?  Well alot.

What does the law say, WHAT IS MEANT BY “IMPAIRED”?

You can be impaired by using either alcohol or drugs. “Drugs” is given a broad but reasonable meaning. This means that drugs include both prescription and non-prescription drugs, and any other chemical agent that may cause impairment.

Courts are likely to consider glassy or bloodshot eyes, unsteady walk, slurred speech, irregular driving pattern, or a smell of alcohol on the breath as common physical signs of impairment. While these are the most common signs of impairment, there may be many others.

To learn more, come and take a Defensive Driving course from Safety Buzz.  Next course will be in June.

 

 

April 2012 Article

Safety Buzz Ltd Profile

Safety Buzz Ltd is a safety company established in Bonnyville, Alberta in April of 2005.  Safety Buzz’s operations include Industrial Safety Training and Qualitative Fit Testing. Safety Buzz Ltd serves Northeastern and Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan. We have locations in Medicine Hat, Bonnyville, and Lloydminster.

Safety Buzz Ltd. Mission is to provide safety training in a manner that is both fun and informative.  Our slogan is “we put a new spin on the same old course”.  Safety Buzz’s main principal and belief is safety comes first. We always aim to instill that same belief in our clients through training and awareness.  Safety Buzz instructors make sure to cover all learning styles through our safety training, and are not satisfied till we know every individual has received the training they need!  Come check out the warm and inviting atmosphere of Safety Buzz and see the difference we provide.

Safety Training: Safety Buzz has a strict policy to make sure all students leave safety courses with full understanding of the course material.  If people aren’t safe at the work site, we haven’t done our job!  At present, Safety Buzz has a staff of 9 safety instructors to provide all the desired safety courses.  We are certified to train courses franchised by Enform, Global Training, St. Johns, Attitude People Inc, Safety Buzz Ltd, and ACSA.

Safety Buzz takes pride in participating and or supporting local causes such as Medicine Hat and Bonnyville Chamber of Commerce, Haying in the 30’s, Oilmens and Oil Ladies, Rodeo Association, CSSE, Bonnyville Centennial Center, multiple charity cancer events, food bank, etc.

Safety Training:

•       Enform H2S Alive, GODI, Oilfield Haulers

•       St. Johns First Aid Red Cross

•       Global Training Ground Disturbance I&II

•       Attitude People Inc Defensive Driving

•       PDIC

Safety Buzz Proudly certifies the following:

•      TDG (Clear Language)

•      WHMIS

•      Confined Space I&II

•      Fall Protection

•      Gas Testing and Nitrogen

•      Fire Extinguisher Training

•      Hours of Service

•      Fatigue Management

 

 

March 2012 Article

What’s happening at Safety Buzz??

I want to highlight the Buzz Safety Week.  We are doing 8 classes in 1 week – saving people time and reducing the repetition you would notice if you were to take the courses separately.  This is especially valuable for those who take their training in the spring and want to take all their training together when it’s due again in 3 years.

Also we are offering a FREE WHMIS course for the public every month.  We will take monthly donations.  Our course is March 9th and donations go to the food bank in Medicine Hat.

We are not only located in Medicine Hat, but in Bonnyville and Lloydminster as well.  Our schedules and information for all locations can be found on our website www.safety-buzz.com.

Want a fun and relaxing way to learn safety?  Come see us.  Our coffee room is always fully stocked and we have a foose ball table ready for your breaks!

Remember to find us on Facebook and Twitter!

 

 

February 2012 Article

Safety Buzz Ltd is a premier Safety Training company servicing Alberta and Saskatchewan with Training Facilities in Bonnyville, Lloydminster and Medicine Hat.  Established in 2005, Safety Buzz has met the safety training needs of the oil, gas and public industry sector and continues to be the number one choice for adult training.  From our modern/professional facility to our friendly helpful staff, it’s no wonder most companies choose Safety Buzz. We even have a foose ball table and lots of snacks. If classroom training is not what you need we also offer online training and SELFSTUDY training.

Below are descriptions of just a few of the courses we offer:

Enform H2S Alive (8hrs)

This course covers the necessary precautions for working with H2S on the job site.  It includes H2S properties and detection, and exposure limits.  Also included are initial response strategies and rescue techniques, respiratory protective equipment, and rescue breathing techniques.  Following a written exam, students are awarded a certificate. This course is intended for petroleum industry workers who work near hydrogen sulphide.

St. Johns First Aid Standard CPR (2 days)

Emergency help given to treat ill or injured people using readily available materials.  We will cover CPR, Breaks, Medical Illnesses, Eye Injuries, Burns, etc.  This course will give you the basic knowledge and skills to assist someone in an emergency.

Global Ground Disturbance I & II (1day)

This course is for anyone  planning any kind of ground disturbance. We go over things like permits needed, locating underground lines, regulations, and environmental impact.

Confined Space I & II (1day)

This course focuses on  identifying confined space issues.  We go over confined space entry, the hazards, procedures to follow, and what to do in an emergency.  We also go into recognizing potential hazards and prevention of emergency situations.  This is followed by a hands-on simulated exercise

 

 

December 2011 Article

What’s special about Safety Buzz? 

Why choose them?  How did they become an instructor?

Public speaking isn’t for everyone.  In fact, one out of every three people rate public speaking anxiety as their number one fear – above death, divorce and job loss.   All staff at Safety Buzz are carefully chosen based on a number of criteria.

 

1.                  How do the instructors interact with their students

2.                  What type of experience do the instructors have in the course material

3.                  How well do the instructors answer the questions of their students

4.                  Is the instructor passionate about the course material

5.                  Do they fit in with the “Buzz” team

This strategy has worked well with our locations in Bonnyville, Lloydminster, and of course Medicine Hat.

Here are some instructor profiles so you can learn about the “BUZZ” staff.

Amy Zuk

Owner/Safety Instructor

Safety Buzz is Amy’s baby.  When she first started up, Amy instructed, answered phones, maintained equipment, marketed and swept floors as a one woman show.  Less than seven years later, her business is thriving with over 10 staff members and a large bank of loyal clientele.  A year ago she opened a location in Medicine Hat and just recently one in Lloydminster and is again enjoying the challenge of establishing a new company.

Amy grew up on a farm in the Bonnyville area.  Growing up, she helped her dad with his bobcat business.   After high school, she worked in a sand cleaning plant where she was involved in everything from its construction to the operating phase.  She then studied business at the University of Alberta where she specialized in marketing and human resources.  After university, Amy worked as a scale operator, she then became a thermal operator for CNRL Wolf Lake and Primrose.  After operating, Amy did some marketing for Bonnyville Welding before opening up Safety Buzz in 2005.

In addition to teaching virtually all courses offered at Safety Buzz, Amy continues to explore ways to build and expand the quality of safety instruction offered at Safety Buzz.

Jaime Lucas Cameron, First Aid Instructor: Jaime has been with Safety Buzz since we started in Medicine Hat a year ago.  Anyone who has taken a course from Jaime knows she’s a blast.  This fun and spunky gal puts a great twist on first aid using ideas and examples that keep everyone involved and alert.  Jaime is a great candidate for instructing first aid as she has always had an interest in the medical field.  She has been involved in hand on first aid situations and acted in a calm and collected manner.  Being able to deal with these types of situations led Jaime to the path of first aid instructing which she has been following for the past four years.

Wanetta Biggs, Administrator:   Wanetta has been with Safety Buzz in Medicine Hat from day 1.  She is fun, very pleasant and a great listener.  If you have any questions Wanetta is sure to get you an answer, and promptly.  It is apparent that she really cares and wants the clients of Safety Buzz leaving the office with every thing they need for success on the job site.  Come in to Safety Buzz and you will see Wanetta at her reception desk with a  smile on her face ready to direct you to your class, the coffee room or book you in for a course.

Chasity Deis,

Instructor for Confined Space, Fall Protection, Gas Testing, TDG, Hours of Service, Cargo Securement, Fatigue Management and WHMIS:  You want an instructor who knows her stuff, is very passionate, and makes sure that everyone understands the course material completely before they leave, Chas is your lady.  Her background history includes correctional officer, commercial vehicle enforcement (so she’s a wiz when it comes to Transport Canada regulations), and a Safety Watch for United Safety.  Chasity has extensive training to back her up and that shows when she is instructing.  She is one of our newest instructors, but when you try out one of her courses you would never know.

Holly Oliver-Webber Instructor for First Aid, Confined Space, Fall Protection and Gas Testing:  Holly has been a nurse for 11 years.   She already instructs CPR, hospital lift and numerous other topics to nurses.  This woman is hilarious.  Your sure to bust a gut if you take a course with her.  With her medical background, Holly will have no problems answering your in class questions.  Holly also co-owned a hot shot company.  Bringing parts and fitting out to the field and plant locations for over 10 years, and understanding what she is bringing, makes her a great asset with her oilfield knowledge.  She can handle whatever you throw at her.

 

 

September 2011 Article

Do I really have to take that course again???

Why do we have to take a safety training course every 3 years is the question I often get asked. Easy answer is because industry has dictated that in order to work; employees need to maintain required training. In order to be deemed competent and meet your due diligence, workers need to prove they have completed and understood their training. In fact, if you read into Occupational Health and Safety’s regulations much of the training you take every three years needs to also be reviewed on an annual basis.

On a more personal note, how many people would be able to remember all the information they learned three years ago in a training session. Some things we may have to hear 7 times before we really absorb and retain information. How easy is it to become complacent if you are not being reminded of the training you have received? Besides, maybe you will be the person who the green guy in class listens to and learns from. By interacting maybe you will learn from others as well. Maybe a potential employer may be in the same class as you? Also, you can take the training you received at your course and use it at home, teach safety to your families and friends, maybe even save your own life. Remember “Safety is with you 100% of the time” not just at work.

Next time you are due for your safety training, think of it as…..

  • you learn and are reminded of how to work safely
  • a day off work
  • time out of the extreme weather conditions
  • a networking opportunity
  • place to share your knowledge

where you can grab a coffee, interact with others that are working in industry, and you get to sit down at relax. Training centers such as Safety Buzz offer training in a comfortable environment where the instructors realize not everyone likes tests and school work, you can grab a coffee and a snack, and you can hear a new spin to the same old course. The instructors are fun and down to earth. Come to Safety Buzz where you can “Catch the Buzz” on SAFETY.