President's Message
I hope this message finds you and yours well and in good health
The building Operators Association will delay the trade show to the spring. We send regrets and will try to arrange it to not coincide with the oil and gas shows that typically run the spring dates. I will contact the companies that made inquiries to let them know of the proposed schedule.
By now you should have received the membership dues notification. I hope you will process it asap. It is our source of revenue that allows us to continue. Please, support us as we support you.
We are entering into a new year 2025 promises challenges. We still have not filled the many empty offices in the downtown core. This leaves the buildings understaffed. The maintenance of facilities must still be done that leaves too few doing too much. This leaves workers tired and frustrated. We still have a job to do and it must be done with safety in mind. Are workplace accidents, tragic fate or a preventable failure? Know that workplace accidents never happen “by chance”? Behind every fall, every injury, and every human tragedy lies a chain of preventable mistakes: a forgotten safety gear, rushed training, or ignored protocols. Are our worksites truly as safe as we claim?
Allowing hazardous conditions to exist is setting up for failure, safety inspections of the worksite should be a regular event. Training in task analysis and development in safe work procedures is essential. How many companies genuinely invest in maintaining and upgrading their equipment?
Lack of proper training: Being qualified isn’t enough. Regular, specific training saves lives. Neglect of safety protocols: Can meeting a tight deadline ever justify putting lives at risk?
What can we do about it? What do you think is the biggest barrier to workplace safety today? Is it a lack of investment, the pressure of tight deadlines, or simply a mindset issue?
Act before it’s too late: Building a safety culture isn’t optional—it’s a necessity. This means thorough audits, correct use of equipment, and open communication between management and employees.
Protecting workers is an investment: Did you know that every dollar spent on prevention can save up to four dollars in accident-related costs?
Let us have a safe 2025
See you at the next meeting, December 10th at the Danish Canadian Club
Les Anderson
