Safety MattersOur blog discussing workplace safety opportunities in Nova Scotia and around the world.https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblogNew mobile app provides health and safety information to promote safe workhttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/230/new-mobile-app-provides-health-and-safety-information-to-promote-safe-workGeneralWed, 01 Mar 2017 00:16:10 GMTThe Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has an app that provides instant mobile access to workplace health and safety information.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> The OSH Answers App contains the entire collection of fact sheets, including full text and images, available on the CCOHS website. There are thousands of questions and answers on almost 600 topics related to the health and well-being of workers, from workplace stress and chemical safety, to ergonomics and seasonal safety tips. The fact sheets are searchable and organized by major subject areas, and provide easy to read health and safety information from reliable sources.<br /> <br /> Once the app is downloaded, you don&rsquo;t need a wireless connection to run it. The app is available for free on CCOHS&rsquo; website, in the Apple App Store as well as Google Play for Android devices. A <a href="http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers" target="_blank">web-based</a> version is also available.<br /> <br /> You can read the news release here or find out more on the <a href="http://www.ccohs.ca/products/oshanswers_app/" target="_blank">CCOHS website</a> here.23030 NS CEOs sign groundbreaking health & safety charterhttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/188/30-ns-ceos-sign-groundbreaking-health-safety-charterGeneralFri, 16 Oct 2015 18:13:20 GMT<em>**The following press release was issued by the Steering Committee for the Nova Scotia Health and Safety Leadership Charter&nbsp;<br /> </em><br /> HALIFAX, NS &ndash; On October 8th, 30 top executives from across Nova Scotia committed to do all they can to make Nova Scotia the safest place to work and live in Canada.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> The CEOs signed the Nova Scotia Health and Safety Leadership Charter, committing them to reducing injuries in their workplaces. The Charter is the first of its kind in Nova Scotia and stands as a public declaration by the CEOs to do better on health and safety.<br /> <br /> Jeff MacLean, President of Michelin North America (Canada) Inc. is one of five CEOs who have volunteered to serve on the CEO Steering Committee, which will establish the goals and develop an action plan for the upcoming year.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> &ldquo;Michelin is proud to support this initiative and engage with other businesses and organizations in Nova Scotia, all who share the belief that a safer province is a more productive and prosperous province,&rdquo; said Mr. MacLean. &ldquo;The leaders who join this initiative have all agreed to share best practices and with this senior leadership commitment, we will all improve the health and safety performance in Nova Scotia.&rdquo;<br /> <img alt="" src="/Portals/worksafeforlife/Safety%20Charter%20100815.jpg" style="width: 475px; height: 273px; float: right; margin-top: 7px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 7px;" /><br /> &ldquo;We&rsquo;re signing the Charter to raise awareness and encourage every business leader in Nova Scotia to make safety a priority,&rdquo; says Jason Shannon, COO of Shannex Incorporated. &ldquo;Safe workplaces are a right of every employee and something that should be at the top of business planning agendas.&rdquo;<br /> <br /> Over the next weeks and months, the Steering Committee will work to engage more Nova Scotia businesses and organizations, and will start implementing internal and external health and safety strategies.<br /> <br /> &ldquo;Safety leadership is an essential part of a strong safety culture,&rdquo; says Kelly Regan, Minister of Labour and Advanced Education. &ldquo;These 30 leaders are showing they&rsquo;re committed to creating a better future for workers in this province. I applaud their efforts, and encourage more top executives across Nova Scotia to join them.&rdquo;<br /> <br /> Companies whose top executives signed the Charter include:<br /> <br /> Acadia University<br /> Acadian Seaplants Ltd.<br /> Atlantic Crane &amp; Material Handling<br /> Dalhousie University<br /> Department of Labour and Advanced Education<br /> Emera Utility Services<br /> Falck Safety Services Canada<br /> Halifax Harbour Bridges<br /> High Liner Foods<br /> IMP Group<br /> IWK Health Authority<br /> Intertape Polymer<br /> Kohltech International<br /> Michelin North America (Canada) Inc.<br /> Mount Saint Vincent University<br /> Municipal Group of Companies<br /> Northern Pulp<br /> Nova Scotia Health Authority<br /> Nova Scotia Power Inc.<br /> Oxford Frozen Foods<br /> PCL Constructors Canada Inc.<br /> Port Hawkesbury Paper<br /> Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada<br /> Saint Mary&rsquo;s University<br /> Scotsburn Ice Cream Company<br /> Shannex Incorporated<br /> Sobeys Inc.<br /> Staples Inc.<br /> Tandus Centiva<br /> Workers&rsquo; Compensation Board<br /> <br /> -30-188Tips for staying healthy and safe while getting through winterhttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/158/tips-for-staying-healthy-and-safe-while-getting-through-winterGeneralFri, 20 Feb 2015 14:35:44 GMTThis winter has brought some incredible weather to Nova Scotia - snow, freezing rain, rain, flash freezes, and all the above put together.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> On top of these pressures, we&rsquo;re also dealing with the balance of work and family obligations. It&rsquo;s easy to get frustrated and feel stress over the extra time it takes to get going each morning when you have to shovel, clear off the car, and inevitably, get stuck in what seems like endless traffic. Often, our tendency is to rush and take short-cuts.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Short-cuts like not clearing off your vehicle properly, which can lead to ice and snow flying off the roof directly into the path of the driver behind you. &nbsp;<br /> <br /> Short-cuts like pulling into the passing lane to get ahead, only to realize the person driving the vehicle in front of you sees what you can&rsquo;t - black ice.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Short-cuts like not having your driveway thoroughly cleared, causing an accident for yourself, or someone visiting your property.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> These tough winters are frustrating. They bring increased physical demands, the necessity to revise our schedules, and more time to navigate our way to work and extra-curricular activities.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Here are some great tips on how to get through the next couple of months before the warm weather greets us once again:&nbsp;<br /> <br /> &bull; <a href="http://globalnews.ca/news/1765198/brrr-its-cold-outside-what-you-need-to-know-about-health-and-winter-weather/ " target="_blank">What you need to know about your health and winter weather&nbsp;</a><br /> &bull; <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/buyers-guide/10-blizzard-battling-winter-driving-tips-article-1.2091907 " target="_blank">10 essential driving tips to keep you safe&nbsp;</a><br /> &bull; <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/er-doctors-talk-winter-snowstorm-safety/ " target="_blank">ER Doctors talk winter safety</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> &bull; <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/caa-manitoba-reminding-drivers-to-pack-winter-safety-kit-1.2857789 " target="_blank">What you should have in your car&rsquo;s winter safety kit</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;158Don't let storms rain on your paradehttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/70/dont-let-storms-rain-on-your-paradeGeneralFri, 20 Sep 2013 13:24:49 GMT<p>Fall is a beautiful season; the weather starts to cool, harvest brings a bounty of fresh produce and we get to enjoy the outdoors with a big comfy sweater.</p> <p>Fall is also hurricane season. In 2003, Hurricane Juan made landfall in Nova Scotia and was one of the most powerful and damaging hurricanes to ever affect Canada. While storms of this magnitude are rare, throughout the fall it&rsquo;s not uncommon for Nova Scotians to be riding out the tail end of a storm and trying to manage without power.</p> <p>According to the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ec.gc.ca/ouragans-hurricanes/default.asp?lang=En&amp;n=45C37F7B-1">Canadian Hurricane Centre</a> (CHC), there are five things to keep in mind when preparing for a storm&hellip;</p> <p>1)&nbsp;Learn about hurricanes- The more you know, the safer you will be. On the climatology section of the CHC website you can learn the four basic threats posed by hurricanes or tropical storms.<br /> 2)&nbsp;Secure your home- Find the hazards in and around your home before they become a concern. Fix a leaky basement, trim trees around your property. If you live in an area where storm surges could be an issue, have a plan to evacuate to higher land when a storm is forecast. Check insurance to see what is covered and what is not and invest in a generator.<br /> 3)&nbsp;Develop a family plan- check out <a href="http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/index-eng.aspx">Public Safety Canada&rsquo;s Get Prepared site</a>, and use it to help you create your own personalized family emergency plan. <br /> 4)&nbsp;Create an emergency supply kit - You can either buy an assembled kit or create your own. It should include first aid items, personal prescriptions, food, water, etc. <br /> You should also consider an emergency car kit and ensure that your vehicle has a full gas tank before a storm. <br /> Ensure cell phones are fully charged. <br /> 5)&nbsp;Information sources &ndash; Make sure that you know where to get the latest weather forecasts and public announcements from emergency managers. During a disaster, battery-operated radios are the most reliable way to get information. </p> <p>Storms can be scary but if you are well prepared in advance, it will lessen the stress and help to ensure that you and your family ride out the next storm safely.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> &nbsp;</p>70Morgan Stobbe is a return-to-work success storyhttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/58/morgan-stobbe-is-a-return-to-work-success-storyGeneralFri, 03 May 2013 18:17:05 GMTAn important part of our mandate at the WCB is supporting a<br /> safe and timely return to work. In 2012, 96% of injured workers were able to<br /> return to their pre-injury employment in a relatively short period of time. In fact<br /> there were 19,000 fewer days lost to injury in 2012 than in 2011.<br /> <br /> But in some cases the human toll of workplace injuries can<br /> be significant. When a worker is seriously hurt on the job, it can turn their world<br /> upside down. Their life and the lives of their family members can be completely<br /> disrupted. <br /> <br /> Morgan Stobbe knows only too well how devastating workplace<br /> injury can be. Back in September of 2010 Morgan suffered a catastrophic<br /> workplace injury when his arm was crushed as a result of a mechanical failure<br /> and had to be amputated. But right from day one Morgan was determined that his<br /> injury wasn&rsquo;t going to hold him back. Thanks to his determination, the support<br /> of his girlfriend, family and friends, his employer Cherubini Metal Works and<br /> his WCB Case Manager Niko Mitsiopoulos, Morgan was back to work in just nine<br /> months.<br /> <br /> &ldquo;The thought of not going back to work never crossed my<br /> mind,&rdquo; says Morgan. &ldquo;But I got back sooner because the WCB and my employer<br /> recognized I was ready to be productive and helped make it happen. I also<br /> wouldn&rsquo;t have made it through without the amazing support of my girlfriend,<br /> family and friends. Now my goal is to help others avoid a situation like mine<br /> and in my new role I get to do that. My artificial arm sends a pretty strong<br /> message of the dangers in the workplace and people listen to what I have to<br /> say.&rdquo; Morgan is now a Safety Officer with Cherubini metal Works.<br /> <br /> Creating a successful Return-to-Work program requires a team<br /> effort. Strong partnerships must be at the heart of any program, and each<br /> partner must have a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities.<br /> When all partners work together and share their knowledge and expertise, a<br /> Return-to-Work program will run smoothly and efficiently.<br /> <br /> Returning to work is important because it:<br /> <br /> <p>Reduces or eliminates lost-earnings</p> <p>Helps injured workers stay active, which speeds up recovery</p> <p>Minimizes the impact on family members</p> <p>Shifts the focus from what you &lsquo;can&rsquo;t do&rsquo; to what you &lsquo;can do&rsquo;</p> <p>Maintains a sense of confidence and value</p> <p>Allows injured workers to stay connected to co-workers and the workplace</p> <br /> For more information about the importance of return-to-work programs and available support,<br /> <p>visit http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/GettingStarted/ForEmployers/ReturnToWork.aspx</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>58Nova Scotia Research highlights the importance of safety climatehttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/42/nova-scotia-research-highlights-the-importance-of-safety-climateGeneralFri, 07 Dec 2012 18:56:33 GMT<strong>Nova Scotia Research highlights the importance of safety climate<br /> </strong>&nbsp;<br /> Research conducted by Dr. Michael Leiter of Acadia University&rsquo;s Centre for Organizational Research and Development, highlights the importance of safety climate in building and maintaining healthy and safe workplaces. The study, &ldquo;Developing a Safety Climate: Shared Assumptions and Interventions&rdquo;, was completed in partnership with Nova Scotia&rsquo;s South Shore District Health Authority, and was funded by Nova Scotia Workers&rsquo; Compensation Board, Saskatchewan Worker&rsquo;s Compensation Board and Work Safe BC, &nbsp;through the Focus on Tomorrow research program.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> The goal of the research was to assess how the &ldquo;Creating a Safe Climate&rdquo; (CSC) intervention could enhance both the safety climate of a hospital unit, and the safety behaviour of nurses.&nbsp; The intervention involved (1) increasing the levels of value that individuals place on workplace health and safety, and (2) measuring the alignment of safety practices with organizational policies and procedures. By doing this the research aimed to decrease the number of injuries for staff, create a better functioning workplace, and ultimately provide better care to patients. <br /> &nbsp;<br /> The research was completed in three phases:<br /> Phase 1 &ndash; surveys of nurses at three SSDHA hospital sites<br /> Phase 2 &ndash; selection of four nursing units to participate in the CSC intervention, with the remainder serving as control groups. &nbsp;&nbsp;Through the intervention tool nursing work groups identified issues, set goals for improving the safety climate on their unit, and enhanced progress towards these goals. <br /> Phase 3 &ndash; preliminary survey was repeated and evaluated for resulting changes.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Among the research findings participants identified:<br /> &middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; what they defined as more unpredictable hazards (slippery surfaces, patients, lifting) to be the cause the greatest amount of risk.<br /> &middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; moderate levels of concern for workplace health and safety and rated themselves and co-workers as generally, but not consistently, compliant with safety procedures. <br /> &middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; they and their co-workers followed safe working procedures most of the time, even if doing so meant it would slow them down. From the respondents&rsquo; perspective, management did not view safety as a significant concern.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Dr. Leiter&rsquo;s study states: &ldquo;A safety climate reflects the core values of the hospital, as demonstrated through actions of leaders at the executive and unit level. &nbsp;&nbsp;Support from management (in terms of funding and time) is crucial to improve a unit&rsquo;s safety climate. &nbsp;&nbsp;An organizational intervention to address safety as a core value requires active and enthusiastic support from hospital leaders.&rdquo;<br /> &nbsp;<br /> You can find the full report <a href="http://www.wcb.ns.ca/Portals/wcb/Leiter_Developing_a_Safety_Climate_Feb_2011.pdf">&ldquo;Developing a Safety Climate: Shared Assumptions and Interventions&rdquo;</a> here.&nbsp; <br /> &nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;42