Category: Workers Safety


Public hearings

Filed under: Climate, Environment, First Nations People, Government Works, Politics and Politicians, Public health, Social Activism, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
January 17, 2014

The time to be heard at the public process for the Kinder Morgan  twinning project application is fast approaching. opening on Wednesday the 14th and ending on February 12th you must apply to the National Energy board to make a submission.

Here is the contact info according to Trans Mountain Pipeline; Kinder Morgans subsidiary and active agent in this application.

Grass seeding at a construction site in Merritt Photo KDG

Grass seeding at a construction site in Merritt
File: Photo KDG

Trans Mountain notes an error in the email notification that was sent to you this afternoon on behalf of the National Energy Board.

The correct email address for the National Energy Board’s Process Advisor, Reny Chakkalakal is transmountainpipeline.hearing@neb-one.gc.ca.

The National Energy Board (NEB) has issued an Application to Participate Notification about the hearing process for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.

Those who wish to take part in the NEB hearing must apply to participate. The application to take part is on the NEB’s website at:

www.neb-one.gc.ca select Major Applications and Projects, then Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC – Trans Mountain Expansion.

Applications to participate in the NEB Hearing are due on or before noon on 12 February 2014.

If you need more information, the NEB has appointed Ms. Reny Chakkalakal as Process Advisor to give assistance.

Ms. Reny Chakkalakal Process Advisor, NEB E-mail: transmountainpipeline.hearing@neb-one.gc.ca  Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265

The notice is also posted on the Trans Mountain website. You can read the full notice here.
Sincerely, The Trans Mountain Expansion Project Team

Today in history: January 17th 1946, 2007

The UN security council holds its first meeting.

The doomsday clock goes to 5 minutes to midnight in response to North Korean nuclear testing.

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Power lines can kill

Filed under: -Photography, Public health, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
January 2, 2014
Model plane stuck in power line

Model plane stuck in power line Photo KDG

There was a model plane stuck in the power lines this week behind the local arena. When we showed this picture to the City works Foreman Dan, he said he would call Chris  from the hydro the plane was gone before the crews were able to find it and all concerned agreed that to try to recover something like this could be fatal especially with a stick reach we hope that it fell over time and no one attempted to get it down with any method. (including throwing rocks.)

Today in history: January 2nd 2004

Stardust flys past comet wild 2 collects samples that will be returned to earth.

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Road block: reporting from last year 2012

Filed under: Crime and punishment, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
November 1, 2013

The local police had a road block on Voght Street last evening we were taking pictures and a constable asked if ” we could help you sir” . After a reply we both went about our business which included more pictures and demands to see drivers licences.

The corner on Voght street is a traditional spot for the local police to have road blocks . A well advertised campaign at Holiday time called counter attack checked for drinking drivers at  about the same location.  The bend in the road afforded a surprise effect for cars coming down from a hotel on the hill. The hotel is gone in a fire some years ago but there was a good response to the Halloween activities by locals this year, with many people dressing up and having fun.

The road block was not around the bend  and was visible coming down the hill. The RCMP  remind people to be visible after dark on this social occasion.

Editors note: On examination of the photos the police where around the corner from the long hill that used to accommodate the Largest hotel in Merritt’s patrons returning to the center of town.

Today in history: November 1,1765

The British Government makes the Stamp act to fund military operations in North America by the 13 Colonies.

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Bang and shake: quake

Filed under: Environment, Public health, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
August 27, 2013

Sometime after 9PM on the 23rd of August we felt a bang and shake for about half a second in the apartment building that we live in . Fully expecting to see an amount of damage to the building by a car or trick that stuck it we didn’t get out of bed. The next day talk of an earthquake was about the town and news reporting said that Merritt had had a small earth quake, in the range of 2.6 on the energy released scale. Emergency vehicles were about on Friday after the shake and people said that they went to the Clay banks park over flow to a fire that  was not there and there were reports of Fire works at a local school. Lots of accounts of people hearing or feeling the brief shaking including retired fire chief Don Moyes who thought it may be like the experience of his child hood when he would hear and see explosions in the coal mines. Another person working at the Grand said that he spilled a bit of his drink he was preparing.

The United States Geological Survey does not list it on their records this may be that it was not on a plate boundary or an US threat. They do list an earthquake  on the 19th in Osoyoos, 2.5 in energy at 15.32 , UTC 7.00.

Talking to a young woman from Japan on Saturday at Starbucks she said 2.6 is a weekly occurrence for her and her companion said he doesn’t know if it’s a quake, sometimes ,or a passing truck.

The confusion is an enigma about fires and fireworks here is some advice from  a Canadian source on what to do in an event:

http://embc.gov.bc.ca/em/hazard_preparedness/earthquake_information.html

Today in History: August 27th 1928

The Kellogg-Briand pact is signed, it eventually leads to 61 countries signing on.

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Duct pack

Filed under: Environment, Public health, Technology, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
August 15, 2013

The hydro ( or a consultant) here in Merritt are checking old manholes for compatibility for water lines today. A source says the real work to is a duct pack in the Voght street  and the burial of the power lines  that now are on the west side of the road. He also says that the top like goes to a substation in the highland valley and is high voltage up to 63000 volts.

The single line sits atop some ageing power poles at this time.

Today in History: August 15th 1481

The Sistine Chapel is consecrated.

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Pass on the left

Filed under: Crime and punishment, Public health, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
August 6, 2013

There is some advice published in the window of the Community policing office in respect to riding a bike. ” when on the sidewalk overtake people on the left and ring the your bell as you pass.”
In the last few weeks I have been overtaken on the left while walking several times by fast moving bikes.Not once did any noise come from the bikes and there was a sence of danger as to the possibility of stepping left at the wrong time and being in a collision.
While a drivers licence will give the authorities jurisdiction over a bicycle rider on the publicly maintained highways. Not all riders are licensed and the ones on the sidewalk especially so. People licensed are subject to fines and complaints under the motor vehicle act
however there is no obligation for them to have 3rd party insurance like all other drivers on the road.
All that aside once hit you are hurt and maybe seriously no compensation can give that back. Prevention remains your best defence. Watch out and have a safe good day.

Today in history: August 6, 1960
Cuba takes all American property in a nationalization scheme.

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IBEW

Filed under: Enterprize, Environment, Technology, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — 2 Comments
June 20, 2013

There were some members of the international union IBEW at a local watering hole last night . They are here to do the 500 KV line to the lower mainland.

Doug Giles the job Stuart  and representative for the BC local 258 and his entourage said there is 4 yrs of construction work in the line Merritt to the lower mainland.

One of the party said they were looking for common sence in their operations.

CLAC The Christian labours of Canada is the other union involved in the line construction.

Today in history: June 20th 1837

Queen Victoria succeeds to the throne of Great Britain.

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Lumber for plainning

Filed under: Enterprize, Environment, Technology, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — 4 Comments
June 4, 2013

The Ardew mill site has some activity on it this week .Lumber cut at its new owners Aspen Planners Ltd is being piled for planning at the site. A source says that although the Ardew milling operation was not automated they had a good planner.

Aspen planners cut lumber for their mill on Quilchena Avenue and plane it at the old Weyerhaeuser mill site which they also own and use exclusively for planning.

modernization and consolidation of operations have dramatically reduced the amount of workers employed here at local mills.

The old Ardew site remains bare of logs. ardew wood products was a family operation that employed about 60 people.

Today in History: June 4, 1975

California gives farm workers collective bargaining rights.

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Blue box

Filed under: Government Works, Technology, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
March 27, 2013

A source in the City thinks that they will be distributing the Blue box  recycle garbage cans that complement the  gray lidded plastic cans for garbage in April or May. The cans have been siting in a pile at the city works yard waiting for  the go ahead from the powers. The same truck is divided into sides one for recycle another for garbage. A mechanical  hydraulic arm picks them up and dumps them into a compression chamber and returns them to the curb. This is worker friendly taking a lot of the risk of injury away from the one man handler.

Water sewer and garbage rates are being separated from the property tax levy on the billing  from City hall this year.

Today in history:March 27 1998

The authorities approve the drug Viagra for impotence.

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1000 posts

Filed under: Social Activism, Vegtable soup, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
February 28, 2013

Today we are posting our one thousandth post on the WordPress blog service , for The Proprietor Review. To mark the occasion we have a suggestion to all the Facebook fans and users that we are associated with.The  games on that service command some time to get  the mouse control , attention to graphics and directions to master. Since you have these already go to http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/getting-licensed/pass-veh/opkt and take the practice road test; that’s the second link down on the menu on the left. Answer the 25 questions untill you get 100 percent. The questions are worth 4 percent each so you need 80 percent to pass; for licensed drivers it should be a breeze.

Today in history: February 28,1784

John Wesley charters the Methodist church

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Forklift training

Filed under: Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
December 17, 2012

There is a consultant giving forklift training for the Flatiron Contractor  today at the local community college. He says he is recommended by WCB as ” being on their list”. The one day course is includes lunch and discussion at lunch included ” who trains the trainer”.

The private consultant goes by JLS training and is unincorporated.

Checking with a local mill forklift drivers are determined by seniority and they will also but on a one day course.

Today in History: December 17,1969

The salt 1 talks begin.

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Highland Valley Copper

Filed under: Environment, Technology, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
October 15, 2012

The huge copper mine about 1 hr from Merritt is still expanding. Lyle Forsyth 31 years an employee and a journey man says his base pay rate is 42.50 an hr. They have had construction recently even giving him some overtime opportunities. The mine some years ago applied to the labour board for a variance so crews could work more then 8 hrs a day with out getting overtime this made for a 4 day work week and one less day of driving as well.

Highland Valley Copper took over the Bethlehem,  Highmont and Lornex operations making for one mining concern under the Teck Corporation banner. The mine produces copper and molybdenum

Today in history: October 15,1970

An Aeroflot domestic flight is hijacked and diverted to Turkey

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