ONTARIO POLICE HEALTH AND SAFETY ASSOCIATION

“Protecting Those Who Protect Us”

Ontario Police Health and Safety Association

Meeting June 4th 2009
Hosted by Windsor Police Service – 4007 Sandwich Street - Windsor - Ontario

9:33 Frank Bauer – Windsor Police Service welcomes members to the OPHSA June
meeting at the Windsor Police Training Center – Frank welcomed Windsor Police Service
Chief Gary Smith.

9:35 Windsor Police Service Chief Gary Smith welcomes OPHSA to Windsor and the
Windsor Police Training Center – Chief Smith thanked Frank Bauer for organizing the
event for OPHSA’s June Meeting - OPHSA members were invited to tour the Training
Center – a one of a kind facility in partnership with the Department of National Defence.

9:40 Ed Parent – Windsor Police Association President – welcomed OPHSA to

Windsor

09:42 Guest Speaker

Dannion Smith
Senior Ergonomics Engineer
Automotive and Specialty Products

Leggett and Platt Automotive Group

Schukra of North America
360 Silvercreek Industrial Drive
RR1 Tecumseh
Lakeshore, ON N8N 4Y3
Cellular (519) 796-5383
Office (519) 727-7000 ext 1623

“Leggett and Platt Automotive Group – Active Lumbar System”

A presentation was made regarding posture issues in Police Vehicles. It has been proven
in studies that massage therapy is beneficial to people. The Active Lumbar System assists

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Darwin Trojan, Chair
C/O York Regional Police Service
17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket Ontario L3Y 4W5
5262@yrp.ca Telephone # (905)895-1221 Ext. 7908
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the driver in many ways. The product was designed for Police Officers and seating
positions. At the present time the system is an add in – Windsor Police received the
package for $375 – the installation is easy for Police retrofitters to complete – a one year
warranty and life span is three years for the Policing world – 15 years for the public.

11:35 View Cruiser with installed support and Lunch

12:05 Resume Meeting

Meeting Dates
September 2009 Ottawa – date to be confirmed
December 2009 in Hamilton

12:10 Minutes of the last meeting – December 11th 2008 approved with the following
corrections:

1. York – “evidence contaminated with evidence”

2. Waterloo – “air hose outlet was capped to prevent the air cleaning of firearms
and those particles becoming airborne”

Section 21 Committee

Darwin Trojan spoke regarding the previous Section 21 Meeting. Those that
attend the Section 21 Meeting whom also attend OPHSA Meetings are Doug Allan from
the PAO, Cindy Bahm from the Ontario Provincial Police Association, Peter Penlington
from the Ontario Senior Officer’s Association, Nick Dzudz from the Ontario Association
of Police Services Boards and Joe Watkins from Municipal Health and Safety Association
of Ontario (observer status).
Guidance Notes are posted on the PAO Website at http://www.pao.on.ca/
Enter PAO and Unity for user name and password located under the left side tab ‘OHS
Notes and Advisories’.
All Guidance Notes were reviewed.
Guidance Note #11 was reviewed (Water Safety) – the Ministry of Labour
approved the note last week.
A Draft Guidance note with Dr Jack Callaghan has been initiated as The MOL has
ordered a review of cruiser ergonomics in York.
The MOL is visiting sites and recording injury statistics.
The Crown Victoria will come off line in 2011 as a Police vehicle – ergonomics of
future Police Service Vehicles to be discussed.
A Program was initiated by WSIB - “Program for Exposure Incident Reporting”
(PEIR) – the MOL was asked to get WSIB Forms clarified – who (?) holds the forms as
there are concerns regarding charges back to they Police Service – needs clarification if
there is a surcharge – retention times etc.

Annual National Conference – June 10-12th

Next Section 21 Meeting – September 25th in Toronto

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Darwin Trojan, Chair
C/O York Regional Police Service
17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket Ontario L3Y 4W5
5262@yrp.ca Telephone # (905)895-1221 Ext. 7908
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Round Table

Hamilton Police Service

No issues to report at this time

Waterloo Regional Police Service

Body Armour – PSAC New Standard Last week – an All Chief’s Order to be
issued next week or two – NIJ hope to release certified products list soon – the intent is to
release a group of manufacturers in order to prevent one company from having the
market.
External carrier design – a Moly System – pouches in the front for use of force
items – Waterloo’s design – the Moly System is a basket weave system designed by Navy
Seal – Patent – if straps loosen or come off, the item can’t be removed.
A Radio Tower was installed to boost the system – late August for conversion and
operating in September or October.

York Regional Police Service

Three questions were posed to the group:
1. Does any service have problems regarding Mental Health Injuries by employer?
Including bullying to harassment, discrimination, gross acts of incivility and
disrespectfulness, emotional abuse and abuse of power.
2. Has any service completed studies or surveys with their members on mental
injuries?
3. Has any member of a health and safety committee suffered any of the above as a
result of being a committee member?

A lengthy discussion was held and included conversation regarding a Hamilton

Lawsuit regarding harassment – 12 employees came forward – a trial was not held – the
Harassment Policy was changed.
Is an independent review necessary rather than a Chief to ask about Mental Stress?
Questions need to be asked and a solution derived.
Ottawa did a survey regarding ‘Respectful Workplace’ – new in origin – will share in
the future with others the programs on history, training and results.
A website to check out - http://www.guardingmindsatwork.ca/Index.aspx
Other issues include Boots and Ergonomic studies.
A recording of injuries related to what is being revamped – The MOL asked to change
the method of reporting to capture more information for statistics.

Ottawa Police Service

Snow tires are being looked at for other unit vehicles.
Respirator Protection Program is moving forward.
Redesign of the cruiser MTD’s – the committee is recommending everyone
works together to get the design correct rather than change it later.
The Breast Badge is still worn on the shirt.
In 2006 3M masks were issued for all – a medical clearance road block has occurred
– the masks are issued, but none are fit tested at this time.

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Darwin Trojan, Chair
C/O York Regional Police Service
17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket Ontario L3Y 4W5
5262@yrp.ca Telephone # (905)895-1221 Ext. 7908
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Windsor Police Service

The new radio system is working fairly well.
Body Armour – A CUPE Strike has caused a stop in new orders.

London Police Service

No issues to report at this time

Halton Regional Police Service

Radio issues are being monitored.
A concern has been raised regarding cruiser cell phone germs.

Sarnia Police Service

No issues to report at this time

Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service

The Peterborough Station has completed renovating that included asbestos and
lead removal prior to a complete renovation.
A current issue with the renovation is a half dozen people with an unexplained
skin rash after moving up to the renovated top floor. One communicator suffers hives on
exposure to the comms room – WSIB will not honour a claim (no time loss at this time) –
air testing done by a private company that tested for all ‘common’ air borne contaminants
– none resulted in levels that extended beyond the acceptable range – an allergist is
involved – requesting advice again.
York advised they use air scrubbers like those used in clean hospital labs – they
are portable and relatively cheap for the worth they gave their employees.

A 29 Year Veteran of Peterborough Police suffered an aneurysm and died as a

result. The aneurysm was on duty at the front desk and many came to his rescue. CPR
was initiated and continued once paramedics arrived. It was CPR that kept Bruce Sayer’s
organs continuing to be donated to others in need. Pay attention at First Aid and CPR
annual training – it may help in more ways than you can imagine.

St. Thomas Police Service

Could not attend – however – asked four related questions:
1. What Police agencies are currently utilizing and/or researching the use of Law
Enforcement Carbines as either a replacement for or supplement to 12 gauge
shotguns – on general patrol?
2. Is there a preferred make, model and calibre being used/ researched (carbines)?
Would you be willing to share researched documentation and findings?
3. For annual firearms qualifications and Use of Force training needs, is your police
service using factory ammunition and/or re-load ammunition?
4. Would you have access to the supplier(s) information and the relevant cost
associated to factory and/or re-load ammunition?

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Darwin Trojan, Chair
C/O York Regional Police Service
17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket Ontario L3Y 4W5
5262@yrp.ca Telephone # (905)895-1221 Ext. 7908
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The questions were asked and appeared from the services in attendance that Use of
Force Instructors or range masters could answer the questions with accuracy. London
Police Service offered their best contact in this area – John Austin @ 661-5660.

Stratford Police Service

A question was posed regarding an ergonomist in the area of Stratford to look at
desks etc in the offices. A suggestion was made to contact area Universities.

Meeting adjourned at 2:00 PM

September 28th in Ottawa

The Next Meeting of the Ontario Police Health and Safety Asociation will be
hosted by Ottawa Police Service on Monday the 28th of September 2009.
This is the Monday immediately after the Police Memorial Weekend.
The Meeting will be held at the Ottawa Police Association building
200-141 Catherine Street Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1C3Telephone (613) 232-9434.

The Topic will be Workplace Harrassment and Bullying – Policy and Prevention

The Victoria Park Suites on the corner of O'Connor and Gladstone offers a
Government Rate of $136 (ish) with Police ID - their number is 613-567-7275. It's
not far from the Association Building (where the meeting is held and most of the
weekend festivities will be taking place). There are shuttle buses that will take
officers from there to Parliament Hill for the memorial as well.

IT IS SUGGESTED THAT MEMBERS RESERVE A ROOM ASAP AS ROOMS

BOOK QUICKLY FOR THE MEMORIAL WEEKEND.

Further information, questions or concerns - Contact Mark Ballantine - Secretary

ophsa@hotmail.com

WWW.OPHSA.BLOGSPOT.COM for all OPHSA INFORMATION

FUTURE MEETINGS

OPHSA December 2009 Hamilton

March 2010 To Be Determined

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Darwin Trojan, Chair
C/O York Regional Police Service
17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket Ontario L3Y 4W5
5262@yrp.ca Telephone # (905)895-1221 Ext. 7908
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Members in Attendance

Mark Ballantine
Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service
mballantine@peterborough.ca

Deb Bentley
Stratford Police Service
dbentley@stratfordpolice.com

Joyce Dietz
Sarnia Police Service
jdietz@police.sarnia.on.ca

Lori Taylor
Halton Regional Police Service
Lori.taylor@hrps.on.ca

Mari-Sue Bachmeier
Windsor Police Service
mbachmeier@police.windsor.on.ca

Nick Dzudz
Windsor Police Services Board
ndzudz@cogeco.ca

Jean Paul Lachance

Ottawa Police Service
lachancej@ottawapolice.ca

Lorne Watters
Ottawa Police Service
wattersl@ottawapolice.ca

Paul Reynolds
London Police Service
preynolds@police.london.ca

Darwin Trojan
York Regional Police Service
52620@yrp.ca

Brian Morrison
York Regional Police service
107@yrp.ca

Peter Penlington
Waterloo Regional Police Service
Peter.Penlington@wrps.on.ca

Vince DeMascio
Hamilton Police Service
vdemascio@hamiltonpolice.on.ca

Frank Bauer
Windsor Police Service
Frbauer515@hotmail.com

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Darwin Trojan, Chair
C/O York Regional Police Service
17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket Ontario L3Y 4W5
5262@yrp.ca Telephone # (905)895-1221 Ext. 7908