Just two days shy of his two-year anniversary as Ontario’s chief prevention officer (CPO), Ron Kelusky was recognized for his significant contributions to safety in the construction industry by the Ontario General Contractors Association (OGCA).
Kelusky was presented with the Doug Chalmers Award at the OGCA and Infrastructure Health and Safety Association’s (IHSA) annual Leadership Conference, held March 6 in Mississauga, Ont. The award is presented annually to an individual, group, member company or association that has made significant contributions to the advancement of occupational health and safety in the construction industry.
“He is a gentleman I have had the pleasure to be working with for the last couple of years and in that short space of time he has made perhaps some of the biggest impacts on our industry in a long time,” said Clive Thurston, OGCA president.
“Ron brought a fresh breath of life to that position. He realized that working with all of us in the industry was important, that we had something to say and that we make good partners. He has striven to make that a priority of his office and to work with the industry, work with IHSA, work with all of the partners to bring about a true collaboration in health and safety.”
I want to accept it on behalf of everyone in this room who is committed to safety,
— Ron Kelusky
Ontario Chief Prevention Officer
The CPO position oversees the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development’s prevention office which was created following recommendations in a 2010 expert panel report generated in response to Toronto’s 2009 Christmas Eve swing stage incident that killed four workers and critically injured a fifth.
“I’m really humbled by this,” said Kelusky. “I looked at the list of previous recipients and I recognize that I am joining a very distinguished group of people who have won the Doug Chalmers Award.”
“I have to admit, working with a group of people like you, really makes me more inspired to do things,” he added. “I want to accept it on behalf of everyone in this room who is committed to safety.”
After accepting the award, Kelusky told delegates about an article that appeared in the Daily Commercial News following the CPO induction ceremony held at Queen’s Park where in March 2018.
In the article, Council of Ontario Construction Association President Ian Cunningham was quoted saying “I’m very confident that he will be highly competent serving as the CPO. However, it would appear that he has had limited exposure to the high-risk sectors, the sectors that employ vulnerable workers and the sectors that are comprised largely of small businesses. So the construction industry looks forward to working with him to provide him with an orientation, information, education, ideas and solutions to help him do his job to the best of his abilities.”
“Well Ian, thank you, you guys really followed through,” said Kelusky in his acceptance speech.
Thurston said Kelusky was instrumental in getting the accreditation program implemented in Ontario and including the Certificate of Recognition (COR) program. Supporting Ontario’s Safe Employers, introduced recently, is a program that recognizes employers across the province who successfully implement an occupational health and safety management system in their workplace. Employers will be accredited through the CPO.
Kelusky also talked about a meeting he had with Thurston and others to discuss where COR would fit in accreditation.
“Clive stood up and in a very forceful way basically said while you guys were sitting around…we started this nine years ago and you better take a look at this and ensure COR has a place in accreditation and that really started the ball rolling…we really hunkered down and said we’ve got to make this happen,” said Kelusky.
Kelusky was nominated to receive the award by Craig Lesurf, chair of the OGCA’s safety committee and president of Gillam Group.
“The award is named after Doug Chalmers, a former chairman of the board who championed workplace safety for over 30 years at a time when very few recognized the importance health and safety,” said Thurston. “Safety continues to be a strategic priority for the OGCA as you all know and have seen, because of Doug’s dedication.”
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