Canadian HR Reporter

CANADIAN HR REPORTER CANADIAN HR REPORTER February 24, 2014 February 24, 2014 8 NEWS NEWS Around-the-clock work takes heavy toll on staff Around-the-clock work takes heavy toll on staff Toronto Hydro crews safely performed 3 months' work in fi rst 5 days after massive ice storm Toronto Hydro crews safely performed 3 months' work in fi rst 5 days after massive ice storm BY LIZ FOSTER TORONTO WAS hit by a mas- sive ice storm in late December that left more than 300,000 resi- dents without power over the holidays. In response, Toronto Hydro dedicated all available resources to restore power as quickly as possible. Hydro crews — in col- laboration with mutual assis- tance partners fl own in from out of province — worked around the clock to clear debris and restore power. Ultimately, the cleanup ef- fort lasted 13 days. Toronto Hydro crews per- formed three months' worth of work in the fi rst fi ve days follow- ing the storm, said Ben LaPianta, vice-president of distribution grid management at Toronto Hydro. "That's astounding," he said. "They worked efficiently and they worked as quickly as pos- sible while maintaining safety standards." Only one injury was reported throughout the entire cleanup eff ort, with a branch falling and striking a crew member in the head. Because the employee was wearing personal protective equipment — which includes a hard hat — the injury was minor. Thanks to Toronto Hydro's safety procedures and work ap- proval process, crews walked out of a colossal cleanup eff ort with a safety record the city can be proud of, said LaPianta. "During the ice storm... we didn't change any of our safety procedures," he said. "You don't circumvent normal safety proce- dures and work approval process just because there's high volume. In fact, when it becomes higher volume, it becomes even more critical that you stick to your ex- isting safety procedures." In addition to always wear- ing personal protective equip- ment, crews spend upwards of 20 minutes establishing a safe work zone. ey establish a buff er be- tween their equipment and traffi c — both pedestrian and vehicular. ey plan out their walking route to avoid slips, trips and falls. Be- cause ice aff ects the insulation value of equipment — essentially making everything a conductor — crews treat all equipment as if it is energized until it can be defi ni- tively tested. " ey don't take any chances," said LaPianta. " at takes longer but it's a safety precaution that's necessary during an ice storm." Along with electrical con- tact, fatigue was one of Toronto Hydro's biggest concerns in the Credit: Mark Blinch (Reuters) Toronto Hydro workers work to restore power following an ice storm in Toronto on Dec. 27. The Real Deal on People: Straight Talk on How the CHRO Creates Business Value transcends borders and corporate cultures to offer unprecedented insight into the increasingly vital role of the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) in the success of a company. Former CHRO Les Daken chronicles his successful journey to the C-suite in this new publication. He shares a wealth of accumulated knowledge that includes real-life situations involving the author and other top CEOs, board directors and CHROs. By frankly recounting real experiences from more than three decades of working with top-tier companies, the author brings life to the theory and philosophy. This unique new resource: ȕ Offers authoritative information in an easy-to-read conversational format ȕ Gives personal insights into all of the critical functions and interactions of the CHRO, including labour and industrial relations in a multinational environment ȕ Provides perspectives from current or former CEOs on working with the CHRO ȕ Helps CEOs and board directors better understand the role of the CHRO and how to leverage their own CHRO ȕ Provides current CHROs with new tips and tricks and aspiring CHROs with a career roadmap Practical, no-nonsense advice from a seasoned CHRO Available risk-free for 30 days Order online: www.carswell.com Call Toll-Free: 1-800-387-5164 In Toronto: 416-609-3800 Order # 986064-65203 $75 Hardcover approx. 450 pages January 2014 978-0-7798-6064-7 All proceeds from this book will be donated to the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Shipping and handling are extra. Price subject to change without notice and subject to applicable taxes. New Publication The Real Deal on People: Straight Talk on How the CHRO Creates Business Value Les Dakens NO > pg. 10

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