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A swarm of str
ong earthquakes hit China’s Qinghai province near Tibet early Wednesday morning, the strongest being a 7.1 that toppled an estimated 85% of homes in the impoverished rural area.
The China earthquake is the latest major quake of 2010, following the January magnitude 7.0 earthquake that demolished the country of Haiti, the 8.8 magnitude quake that hit Chile, and the relatively mild early morning 4.4 earthquake that startled people awake in Los Angeles and caused an estimated $100 million in damage.
Seismic-hazard maps released in 2008 show the Boulder Creek fault 40 km’s east of Bellingham running 11km lengthwise and 17km across into BC, near Abbotsford. Experts say this fault could produce a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in BC and would likely cause structural damage to buildings in Abbotsford and throughout Metro Vancouver, to the coast (The Province April 2008).
The recent earthquakes have many people feeling earthquake anxiety and wondering if they are foretelling “The Big One” in the United States, which geologists say is inevitable. There is a widespread perception that something unusual is going on – a pervasive level of anxiety regarding the stability of the earth under our feet – something we normally take for granted.
This is a good reminder to be prepared. If you are feeling earthquake anxiety, now would be a great time to buy an earthquake preparedness kit. Call SOS Emergency Response Technologies at 604-277-5855
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According to the Workers Compensation Act, if you are an employer with 20 or more staff in a workplace determined to be moderate or high risk, or one with 50 or more workers in a workplace determined to be low risk, you are required to implement a formal occupational health and safety (OH&S) program. And you must also maintain a joint occupational health and safety committee consisting of both employer and employee representatives if you employ 20 or more workers.If you are not required to establish an OH&S program, it is still a good practice to implement the basics in the workplace. As an employer you are responsible for ensuring that you and your employees are working in a safe and healthy environment. It contributes to positive work morale and is part of a good employee retention strategy.
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Every year, WorkSafeBC, the B.C. Federation of Labour, and the Business Council of British Columbia co-host a public ceremony to remember workers who have lost their lives as a result of work-related accidents or occupational diseases.
This year, the Day of Mourning ceremony will be held on Tuesday, April 28, 10:30 a.m., on the southwest side of the Vancouver Convention Centre (1055 Canada Place). Families, workers, employers, and other interested parties are invited to attend.
Day of Mourning poster (PDF 1.2mb)
Visit the online memorial
You’re also invited to visit the Day of Mourning web site and dedicate a flower in memory of someone who has died as result of their job.
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Richmond teachers saved the life of a 15-year student who went into cardiac arrest. A teacher dispatched a student to get two teachers that are certified Level 2 first aid attendants at MacNeill Secondary. The two performed CPR and administered oxygen, which the school has for emergencies. Paramedics later told the teachers that they saved the students life with their actions. MacNeill Secondary should be commended in their efforts for a proactive health and safety program.
Blog
An earthquake and at least two aftershocks struck off the coast of BC in late November. The first quake registered 6.6 and was just off the southern tip of the Queen Charlotte Islands. In January 2010 a 7.0 quake (the worst in 200 years) devastated Haiti killing approx. 50,000 and injuring up to 3 million.
The key to preparing your business and home for an earthquake is to plan ahead before the emergency.
Brief your staff. Tell your staff what they should do before, during, and after an earthquake, whether they are at home, at work, or on the road. Call our office and schedule your 1hr Emergency Preparedness Seminar.
Emergency Supplies. Keep enough emergency food, water, heat, and lighting to last the average number of people on site for at least 72 hours. Visit our products page for more information.
Blog
Happy New Year! We here at SOS Emergency Response Technologies have resolved for 2010 to blog on a regular basis and share tips on worksafe health and safety practices. We will include safety tips, information on new first aid, safety, pandemic and/or emergency preparedness items and much more.
