Jim Kellett Takes the Lead at ECAO 2011 ECAO Industry Conference

2011 ECAO ANNUAL REPORT2010-2011During the 12 preceding months the ECAOhas focused efforts to assist its membersthrough a major economic slowdown. Projects,programs, lobby efforts, seminars andtraining initiatives have all been intended tohelp increase our skills, improve our abilitiesto compete, and broaden electrical involvementsso we can expand the range of workwe are qualified to do.The board of directors thanks the staff teamand member volunteer committees for theirhelp in achieving its objectives. The committeestructure and mandates are outlinesin detail on our website www.ecao.org alongwith the names and company affiliations ofour volunteers. The ECAO committees currentlyinclude:1. Contractor and Industry Standards(Codes & Standards and StandardPractices)2. Human Resources Development(including the WSIB subcommittee)3. Member Services4. Public Relations and Communications5. Electrical Trade Bargaining Agency6. Power and Utility SectorWhile not all committees deal with everyissue there is always significant crossoverwhen moving any initiative through fromconcept to delivery.This year’s annual report summarizes theactions of your association over the past yearand highlights ongoing and newly establishedprograms and activities.Health, Safety & WSIB• TeksMed’s WSIB Claims Managementcontract test period was extendedthrough to October 31, 2011. Duringthis period ECAO pays for TeksMed serviceson behalf of all its members fromassociation reserves.• Currently there are about 100 ECAOcontractors that have signed up withTeksMed.• The ECAO board of directors to evaluatethe effectiveness of the TeksMed serviceprior to October 31, 2011.• In 2010 the ECAO WSIB Committeemade submissions to WSIB on Bill119 relating to clearance certificates andmandatory coverage of the constructionindustry and to the Ton Dean Reviewrelating to the comprehensive review ofOntario’s occupational health and safetysystem which was reflected in Bill 160.• Recommendations from Tony Dean supportIHSA’s work. The top recommendationwas to open a separate preventionorganization that would be housed underthe Ministry of Labour. The newly createdhealth and safety organizationswould then align with this new organization.• In March 2011, the ECAO WSIB Committeeparticipated in the consultationprocess and made a written submissionto Harry Arthurs regarding funding ofWSIB. The review concentrated on sixkey issues: funding, premium rates, rategroups, employer incentives and occupationaldisease claims.“K-Line has decided to register nationally with TeksMed because they are able to provide uswith a different approach to reporting workplace injuries which contributed to preventing alost-time injury for our company. They are committed to reducing the amount of time K-Linespends on WSIB claims management by interacting directly with injured workers and the WSIB”– Jim Kellett, K-Line Maintenance & Construction Ltd.Ontario Electrical Contractor28