- W -

Wales: Horizontal members of a shoring system placed parallel to the excavation face whose sides bear against the vertical members of the shoring system or earth.

Walking/working surface: Any surface, whether horizontal or vertical, on which an employee walks or works, including, but not limited to, floors, roofs, ramps, bridges, runways, formwork, and concrete reinforcing steel, but not including ladders, vehicles, or trailers, on which employees must be located in order to perform their job duties.

Walkway: A portion of a scaffold platform used only for access and not as a work level.

Warning line system: A barrier erected on a roof to warn employees that they are approaching an unprotected roof side or edge, and which designates an area in which roofing work may take place without the use of guardrail, body belt, or safety net systems to protect employees in the area.

Watt: The unit by which electric energy, or the ability of electricity to do work, is measured.

WHMIS - Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. A system (sometimes called right to know legislation), to protect workers from exposure to hazardous material.

Work: The total construction and the performance of related services required by the contract documents as signed between the contractor and company.

Workers: Persons gainfully employed, including owners, managers, other paid employees, the self-employed, and unpaid family workers.

Work hours: Total number of hours worked by all employees. They are usually compiled for various levels, such as, an establishment, a company, or an industry. A work hour is the equivalent of one employee working one hour.

Work injuries: Those injuries that arise out of and in the course of gainful employment regardless of where the accident or exposure occurs. Excluded are work injuries to private household workers and injuries occurring in connection with farm chores that are classified as home injuries.

Work Site: Means any location where a worker is engaged in any occupation and includes any vehicles or mobile equipment used by the worker in an occupation.