For the past 10 years, Alberta has had an exemption for road
builders through the ARHCA, meaning that if you’re a member of
the ARHCA then you’re granted permission to take advantage of the
exemption and work longer hours.
Fatigue management
One stipulation, however, is that members need to have a Fatigue
Management System (FMS) in place – which would be required in
Saskatchewan, too – to recognize when workers are exhausted and
need time off and ensure that employees know they can request to
be absent due to fatigue.
Safety is still paramount, especially when more employees are
likely extending themselves physically on warmer days while oper-ating
“As business owners or supervisors, as much as we want the lon-ger
consecutive days or longer shifts, we also need to recognize
“Our employees really want this to
go through. These guys want and
need to work 12 to 14 hours a day.
This is their peak earning time.”
– Allan Barilla, SHCA
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how to effectively manage an employee’s fatigue and what training
we can provide so that everyone can assess themselves and those
they’re working with,” said Barilla.
The current regulations in place now – a six-and-one shift –
isn’t necessarily managing an employee’s fatigue, says Panteluk.
Logging that many hours for eight months can be physically
and mentally draining. Under the FMS, any shift that exceeds
12 hours would mean a worker would have the right to refuse
to work.
“That’s a long stretch without getting much relief,” she said. “Being
able to plan the longer consecutive days worked, you can plan the
longer consecutive days off as well.”
It’s a plan that should work for all parties involved – SHCA, em-ployers
and their employees and the government. And in the long
run, it will help the trade and transportation industry fuel the pro-vincial
economy, and provide a smoother ride for highway travellers
and tourists alike.
COVER FEATURE
saskheavy.ca | Quarter 3 2017 | Think BIG 23