O.R.F.A. E-NEWS - VOLUME 6 ISSUE 2

O.R.F.A./STAR ALLIANCE DELIVERS 4TH ANNUAL NHL FACILITY OPERATORS WORKSHOP

The O.R.F.A./STAR Alliance was once again chosen to provide an educational program for the NHL's Facility Operations Group. The training took place August 20-22, 2007 at the World Arena in Colorado Springs, CO and focused networking and collectively addressing operational challenges unique to NHL buildings.

STA - NEW ADDITION TO THE PARKS & OPEN SPACE AUTHORITY

The Ontario Recreation Facilities Association, Ontario Parks Association, and Sports Turf Association are pleased to announce that they have joined together to form the “Parks and Open Spaces Authority”. This group replaces a previous “Parks and Public Spaces Training and Development Authority”.

The Board of Directors of the Ontario Parks Association (OPA), Ontario Recreation Facilities Association (O.R.F.A.) and Sports Turf Association (STA) have given direction for the Associations to jointly provide needed services to professionals in the Parks and Sports Turf profession. It gives us great pride to announce the start of a joint venture between the STA, O.R.F.A. and the OPA. These three Associations have developed a collaboration to better serve the needs of all memberships. [more...]

In a recent study Ontario's recreation infrastructure deficit-concerning arenas, swimming pools, and community centres alone-is $4,959,195,000 and it's getting worse. Read more on the report "Investing in Healthy Ontarians through Recreation and Parks Infrastructure". [more...]

AIR QUALITY
O.R.F.A. continues to monitor issues surrounding air quality in arenas. Understanding the Issues [more...]

Recent Concerns - Dirty air in arenas could pose health risk:
CBC investigation [more...] and [more...]

Resurfice Corp in Elmira, Ontario has taken a pro-active stance in combating air pollution in hockey arenas across North America and globally. [more…]

Breathing less easy over arena fumes: Electric ice resurfacers pollute less but are much more expensive than gas [more...]

TURF MANAGERS SHORT COURSE
For three decades, graduates of the Turf Managers’ Short Course have contributed to the growth and success of the turf industry from this intensive four-week program designed to provide turf industry personnel with knowledge in all aspects of turf management and culture. Instructed by University of Guelph faculty and industry professionals, the Turf Managers’ Short Course has built a reputation as the most successful and highly valued turf managers’ short course in Canada. You will learn along-side turf professionals from across Canada and from all turf industry segments including golf courses, lawn and landscaping, sports turf and sod production. [more...]

RECREATIONAL WATER ILLNESSES (RWIs)
Reminder to Pool Owners, in 2006, O.R.F.A. sent out an alert to our members on regarding Recreational Water Illnessess. [more…]

Facility owners are reminded that OPERATOR DUE DILIGENCE ALONG WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE PRACTICES are VITAL to the PREVENTION OF RECREATIONAL WATER ILLNESSES (RWIs). RWIs are illnesses that are spread by swallowing, breathing, or having contact with contaminated water from swimming pools, spas, lakes, rivers, or oceans. Recreational water illnesses can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including gastrointestinal, skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic and wound infections. The most commonly reported RWI is diarrhea.

MOL/WSIB ALERT - The Ministry of Labour (MOL) and Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) have recently received reports and complaints about aggressive, high-pressure sales tactics by private providers of workplace posters and workplace safety training. Please review news releases issued by both MOL and WSIB:

BILL 159 IS NOW IN EFFECT - The bill, revising the Private Investigators and Security Guards Act. All companies affected by the new guidelines will have up to two years to comply with them. New rules that make training and licensing mandatory for all workers in Ontario's security industry went into effect on Thursday August 23rd. Bill 159, covering everyone from bouncers at nightclubs to mall security guards and private investigators, strengthens professional requirements for the industry. [more...]

Liquor Licence Act (LLA) - Effective July 1, 2007, all of the previously announced statutory changes to the Liquor Licence Act (LLA) and Alcohol and Gaming Regulation and Public Protection Act, 1996 (AGRPPA) have come into force. [more...]

OELs - Ministry of Labour 2007 Notice of Proposal to Adopt New or Revised Occupational Exposure Limits or Listings For 21 Hazardous Chemical Substances [more...]

Ergonomics - Ontarians now have a new resource to help protect themselves against painful and costly ergonomic-related workplace injuries [more...]

Young Worker Safety - The McGuinty government and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) have partnered to make sure that every student in Ontario gets the information they need to keep themselves safe in the workplace this summer thanks to the Young Worker Tip Sheets program [more...]

Regulatory Enforcement - Everything Counts: Ontario’s New Integrated Approach to Regulatory Enforcement [more...]

2007 Ontario Fire Code - offers Prescription Alternatives: The 2007 Ontario Fire Code (O. Reg. 213/07) is an adaptation of the 2005 National Fire Code of Canada, published by the National Research Council. Ontario joins British Columbia, Alberta (September 2007), Manitoba and Nova Scotia in adopting or adapting the 2005 National Fire Code. Other provinces are expected to follow suit in due course. The new 2007 edition that takes effect on November 21, 2007 will look familiar. At least, part of it will. The rest is oddly different, and that difference sets this edition of the Code apart from all others around the world. [more...]

TSSA Amusement Devices - Any licensee who does not schedule an inspection in accordance with Order 2.3 (Inspection Scheduling) may be subject to a premium inspection fee at double the normal hourly rate. Every licensee, including persons in its employ who are responsible for maintenance, operation, inspection and testing, must have full knowledge of the Amusement Devices Act and Regulation to keep amusement devices safe during their usage. [more...]

TECH TIPS
Outdoor Pools - Outdoor public pool and hot tub waters can be stabilized during spring filling and start-up using pure concentrated Cyanuric Acid (C.Y.A.) in powdered form to a level NOT TO EXCEED 40 p.p.m./mg./L. Pools using elemental (Gas) chlorine, unstabilized calcium or sodium chlorine compounds, are suitable for CYA stabilization. Weekly, test the water for CYA level and add more if the concentration gets below 25 p.p.m. /mg./L. If using some form of stabilized disinfectant and the CYA level rises above 40 p.p.m./mg./L, waste or dump pool water until the correct level is obtained. CYA levels above 40 p.p.m./mg./L will cause chlorine LOCK which will allow algae and other things to grow in your pool resulting in dull, green, yellow, or cloudy water unsuitable for swimming. CYA must never be used for indoor pools. (Doug Paton, Aquatics Consultants Inc.) [Definition: Cynanuric Acid (a.k.a. Stabilizer, Conditioner, or 2,4,6-trihydroxy-s-trazine) a white, granular solid chemical that reduces the loss of chlorine due to the ultraviolet rays from sunlight.]

Maintenance - The maintenance of buildings and equipment may be the most important element of good housekeeping. Maintenance involves keeping buildings, equipment and machinery in safe, efficient working order and in good repair. This includes maintaining sanitary facilities and regularly painting and cleaning walls. Broken windows, damaged doors, defective plumbing and broken floor surfaces can make a workplace look neglected; these conditions can cause accidents and affect work practices. So it is important to replace or fix broken or damaged items as quickly as possible. A good maintenance program provides for the inspection, maintenance, upkeep and repair of tools, equipment, machines and processes. (Source: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety)

Emergency Planning - The Office of the Fire Marshall works with owners and operators of large buildings and public facilities to develop appropriate emergency response programs. The O.R.F.A. encourages you to take the time to review existing emergency procedures and to visit the Emergency Building Measures website where owners and operators will be able to download procedures that they can then further tailor to their specific circumstances. http://www.ofmem.ca/english/info_stadium.asp

TERMINOLOGY
In "Terms" of Facilities - Terms, phrases and definitions relevant to your operation…

SPORTS TURF
Sports Turf does not refer to any grass species or variety. It is a general term referring to all environments growing grass species as a surface on which sports of many types - golf, soccer, football, horse racing, to name a few - can be conducted. The preferred species for most sports fields is Kentucky bluegrass. It is superior to red fescue and perennial ryegrass for two reasons. Kentucky bluegrass root system forms underground stems, known as rhizomes, which spread into vacant spaces in the turf stand, enabling the species to repopulate areas damaged by play. The rhizome root system also provides a tightly knitted root system which is resistant to the tearing action of the player's foot. [Source: Dr. R. W. Sheard] Sports Turf Association

Human Resources: Smart Questions to Ask an Underachiever on your payroll [more:]

Design Smooth Operations: Well-designed facilities should be easy to navigate — and operate. Here are five design flaws that get in the way of both [more:]

FOCUS ON FACILITIES
FACILITIES and more - A lot has been going on in and around recreation facilities. Take a look [more…]