Construction Safety Nova Scotia hits milestone

(Photo courtesy of CSNS)

Construction Safety Nova Scotia (CSNS) approved 16 new and returning directors at its 30th annual general meeting, held earlier this month. The board now has a gender split of 50 per cent.

“Over the last four years, the Board of Directors set a goal to increase gender diversity and representation on the board,” said Milton Howley, chair of the board. “As the construction industry and skilled trades continue to grow and attract more people into the industry, we are proud to have a board with strong female representation.”

The Board of Directors is comprised of representatives from across the construction industry, reflecting both safety organization’s founding members and members at large.

Board members for 2024 are:

• Canadian Home Builders Association – Nova Scotia: Crystal Ingram and Tanya Henley
• Atlantic Concrete Association: Ashley Wall
• Construction Association of Nova Scotia: Heather Cruickshanks and Duncan Williams
• Department of Public Works: Don Maillet
• Mainland Nova Scotia Building and Construction Trades Council: Brittany Colburn
• Nova Scotia Road Builders Association: Dan O’Connor
• Cape Breton Island Building and Construction Trades Council: Ernie Dalton
• Nova Scotia Power: Milton Howley
• Members at Large: Colleen Brushett, Paul Dube, Tyler Gould, Jackie Hatt, JoAnne Ortega and David Wassmansdorf

In addition to confirming its Board of Directors, CSNS launched its 30th anniversary celebrations, welcomed keynote speaker Candace Carnahan, and announced the winners of the 2024 Safety Awards. This year, the awards honoured 10 companies and three individuals who are demonstrating a significant commitment to occupational health and safety in the construction industry in Nova Scotia.

SAFETY AWARD WINNERS

Women in Safety Leadership Award

This award is presented to a woman in health and safety who exemplifies the highest standards for safety leadership, going above and beyond to create change.

Winner: Andrea Giles, project manager and safety coordinator at Solar Ascent

Honourable Mention: Jessica Hunkin, health and safety advisor, of Trinity Energy Group.

Safety Champion Award

This award is presented to an individual who consistently demonstrates outstanding safety excellence and support for their industry peers.

Winner: Mervyn McClay, safety manager at Data Wiring Solutions Inc.

Best Safety Culture Award

This award recognizes excellence in an organization’s OHS culture, with strong safety leadership, a commitment to continuous improvement, and employees who take accountability for safety.

Winner: MacKinnon and Olding

Workplace Mental Health Award

This award recognizes a company that prioritizes worker mental health and understands that mental health is just as important as physical health.

Winner: Able Electric

CHAIR’S AWARDS OF SAFETY EXCELLENCE

The Chair’s Awards of Safety Excellence honour the best of the best. The awards are determined through a combination of Workers Compensation Board (WCB) statistics for injury rate and experience rating, and external Certificate of Recognition (COR) audit scores over the past three years. The Most Improved award is based on the improvement in the last three years of a company’s WCB injury rate and experience rating.

• Chair’s Award for Safety Excellence – Owner/Operator: James Price Enterprises Limited
• Chair’s Award for Safety Excellence – Small Business: Gary d’Entremont Excavating
• Chair’s Award for Safety Excellence – Intermediate Business: Tri-Ex Construction Ltd
  • Honourable Mention: George F. MacDonald and Sons Bulldozing and Trucking Ltd
• Chair’s Award for Safety Excellence – Standard Business: Bird Construction
  • Honourable Mention: Nucor Rebar Fabrication
• Most Improved: Municipal Ready Mix

CSNS is an industry-founded and industry-funded not-for-profit association focused on improving occupational health and safety in the construction sector.

www.constructionsafetyns.ca