Safety MattersOur blog discussing workplace safety opportunities in Nova Scotia and around the world.https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblogTop 5 Best Practice Tips for Successful Return to Work https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/318/top-5-best-practice-tips-for-successful-return-to-workGeneralThu, 06 May 2021 15:19:00 GMT<p>Workplace injury cost Nova Scotia&rsquo;s economy the equivalent of 3,131 person-years of work in 2020 &ndash; a staggering statistic that underlines a call to action for workers, employers, and health care providers across the province.</p> <p>Although the pandemic&rsquo;s impact on the workforce, last year, is a big part of the reduction in claims, that the new low in time-loss workplace injury still speaks to long-term progress in Nova Scotia&rsquo;s safety culture, and the dedication of workers, employers, and stakeholders to safer outcomes.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> In 2020, reduced access to physiotherapy and other health services is part of the reason for the increased time lost to workplace injury, as well as the fact that transitional duties or graduated return to work plans weren&rsquo;t always options during lockdowns.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> However, the underlying issues when it comes to claim durations are much more complex. Increasing psychological injury and an aging population are also contributing to the problem. For example, in 2000, the average age of a Nova Scotian injured on the job was 37. In 2020, it was 43.<br /> <br /> While injury prevention is the best way to keep people in your workplace safe and reduce overall costs, putting an effective return-to-work program in place is key to managing the impact of an injury. Reducing injuries and supporting employees when an injury occurs will also reduce your workers&rsquo; compensation premiums.<br /> <br /> A return-to-work program is a plan to help an injured worker return to productive employment as soon as it&rsquo;s safe and suitable to do so. In fact, getting workers back on the job is an important part of their recovery process.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> As an employer or manager, your role in supporting an employee injured at work through their treatment plan is critical to their success, and ultimately, to yours.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Here are the Top 5 most important parts of a successful return-to-work program:</p> <h5><img alt="" src="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/Images/W2WELL%20CHECKMARK-1.jpg?ver=2021-05-06-112943-733" />1. Prevent the Injury</h5> <p> You have the responsibility to create a safety culture in your workplace by making injury prevention your top priority.</p> <h5> <img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/Images/W2WELL%20CHECKMARK-1.jpg?ver=2021-05-06-112943-733" />2. Partners and Responsibilities</h5> <p> A successful return-to-work journey requires a <a href="https://www.wcb.ns.ca/Working-to-Well/Injured-Workers/Support-Team.aspx" target="_blank">team who works together</a>, stays connected and shares their knowledge and expertise. Employers, WCB case workers, and health care providers, all have responsibilities to the person injured at work and the larger team &ndash; working together on the same plan to get the employee working to well.&nbsp;</p> <p> <h5> <img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/Images/W2WELL%20CHECKMARK-1.jpg?ver=2021-05-06-112943-733" />3. Policy and Procedures</h5> </p> <p> <a href="https://wcb.ns.ca/Return-to-Work/Your-Return-to-Work-Program.aspx">A Return-to-work policy</a> details a workplace&rsquo;s approach to return-to-work by outlining clear and easy-to-follow steps for helping a person injured at work get back to their job as soon as it is safe to do so. The key to a successful return-to-work program is strong leadership and guidance, coupled with a positive collaboration between your employee and all the return-to-work partners.&nbsp;</p> <h5> <img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/Images/W2WELL%20CHECKMARK-1.jpg?ver=2021-05-06-112943-733" />4. Transitional Duties</h5> <p> <a href="https://www.wcb.ns.ca/Return-to-Work/Transitional-and-Modified-Duties.aspx" target="_blank">Transitional duties </a>play a very important role in your employee&rsquo;s recovery process, serving as a bridge until your employee can safely return to their regular duties. Transitional, or modified, duties are any temporary changes to an employee&rsquo;s job that aligns with their functional abilities after an injury. In other words, duties that match what they are able to do.</p> <h5> <img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/Images/W2WELL%20CHECKMARK-1.jpg?ver=2021-05-06-112943-733" />5. My Account&nbsp;</h5> <p> Submitting claims fast and online through <a href="https://my-account.ns.ca/" target="_blank">MyAccount </a>means you and your employee can access the right service at the right time, so recovery can begin sooner. Monitor your company&rsquo;s claim costs and progress in real-time, send and receive messages and documents securely using secure messaging.&nbsp;<br /> ______________________________</p> <p>Check out the <a href="https://wcb.ns.ca/WorkingtoWell" target="_blank">Working to Well section</a> of our website - it&rsquo;s packed with resources to help reduce the human and economic toll of workplace injury in our province.</p> <p><a href="http://mwc/comm/Team Documents/worksafeforlife.ca/safetyandhealthweek" target="_blank">Safety and Health Week</a> is a great time to pause and reflect on safety and return to work, and to reinforce the principles and practices that make your workplace safe.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> </p>318Working to Recoveryhttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/208/working-to-recoveryGeneralMon, 09 May 2016 14:06:24 GMTThe best workplace injury is one that never happens in the first place, but when people are hurt on the job, it takes a team of people to help them recover. <div><span style="line-height: 1.6;"><br /> </span></div> <div><span style="line-height: 1.6;">Team members include employers, health care providers, WCB case management teams, and the worker impacted by injury.</span></div> <div><span style="line-height: 1.6;"><br /> </span></div> <div><span style="line-height: 1.6;">The most common reason resulting in time missed from work due to injury in Nova Scotia, is a soft tissue sprain or strain. In 2015, sprains and strains accounted for 64 per cent of all lost time injuries.</span></div> <div><span style="line-height: 1.6;"><br /> </span></div> <div><span style="line-height: 1.6;">Nova Scotia&rsquo;s average claim duration &ndash; the amount of time people spend off work when they&rsquo;re injured &ndash; increased last year to 108 days, or about three and a half months. The reasons people remain off work longer here than anywhere else in Canada are varied, and research shows the longer people are off work, the less likely they are to return to it.</span></div> <div><span style="line-height: 1.6;"><br /> </span></div> <div><span style="line-height: 1.6;">This has significant socio-economic impact on our region and on families in our communities.</span></div> <div><span style="line-height: 1.6;"><br /> </span></div> <div><span style="line-height: 1.6;">WCB Nova Scotia has been working closely with industry, safety associations and employers to prevent workplace injuries. The result of this collective effort has been tremendous, with 3,000 fewer people being injured at work than a decade ago.</span></div> <div><span style="line-height: 1.6;"><br /> </span></div> <div><span style="line-height: 1.6;">But workplace injury still takes too great a human impact and too many days lost from work. This issue needs urgent attention, toward the same cultural shift the province has seen in workplace safety.</span></div> <div><span style="line-height: 1.6;"><br /> </span></div> <div><span style="line-height: 1.6;">The benefits of keeping our workforce healthy and on the job have impact on our province&rsquo;s economy and on the communities in which we live.</span></div> <div><span style="line-height: 1.6;"><br /> </span></div> <div><span style="line-height: 1.6;">In the weeks and months ahead, we&rsquo;ll be focusing more on supporting all the members of the return-to-work team, as we champion a timely return to safe and healthy work for those impacted by workplace injury.</span></div> <div><span style="line-height: 1.6;"><br /> </span></div> <div><span style="line-height: 1.6;"><a href="http://wcb.ns.ca/Return-to-Work/Return-to-Work-Team.aspx" target="_self">Everyone Plays a Part in Recovery: What is your role?</a></span></div> <div><br /> <p><a href="http://wcb.ns.ca/Return-to-Work/Your-Return-to-Work-Program.aspx" target="_self">Building a Program to Keep Employees Connected: What every employer should know</a></p> <p> <a href="http://www.wcb.ns.ca/Health-Services/Health-Related-Programs/Direct-Access-to-Early-Assessment-of-Sprains-and-Strains-at-Work.aspx" target="_self">Sprains and Strains: Direct access to early assessment for better outcomes</a></p> <p> <a href="http://www.wcb.ns.ca/Return-to-Work.aspx" target="_self">Staying Connected is Key: More information for employers and workers on a return-to-work plan</a></p> </div>208Getting Back in Actionhttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/103/getting-back-in-actionGeneralFri, 09 May 2014 01:26:10 GMT<p>Most people go to work in the morning and return home safely when the day is done. But every day in Nova Scotia, people are hurt on the job, sometimes seriously. That is what we try to raise awareness about during&nbsp;<a href="http://www.naosh.org/english/">NAOSH Week</a>&nbsp;and throughout the rest of the year.</p> <p>The Workers&rsquo; Compensation Board is there to help injured workers when that happens. We work with injured workers to provide financial assistance. We also help them get back to work in a safe and timely way. That is an important part of the WCB&rsquo;s mandate.</p> <p>Work is more than a paycheque. It gives us a sense of purpose and satisfaction, a means of contributing to our families and our communities.&nbsp; Research shows that workers separated from the workplace are at increased risk of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, social isolation, marriage problems and even suicide.&nbsp; We also know that the longer an injured worker is off the job, the higher the likelihood that they will never return; so missing time from work due to an injury can cost much more than a salary.</p> <p>Everyone benefits when an injured worker is able to return to work. The worker gets back to their regular life and avoids the negative consequences that often come with a long absence from the workplace; the employer has an important and productive member of the team back on the job. A safe and timely return to work can also reduce overall costs for the Workplace Safety Insurance System.</p> <p>The majority of workplace injuries in Nova Scotia are sprains and strains. While recovering from these and some other injuries, an employee can often return the workplace with limited or transitional duties. Over the past few years, the WCB has worked closely with employers and employees to continue to improve services that help injured workers make a safe and timely return to work. That includes:</p> <p><strong>Direct Access to Physiotherapists and Chiropractors</strong> &ndash; this program enables workers suffering from sprains and strains to go directly to a WCB approved health care provider, such as a physiotherapist or a chiropractor for an assessment, allowing the return-to-work process to begin right away.</p> <p><strong>Enhanced Physician Services</strong> &ndash; the WCB offers care from a group of physicians from around Nova Scotia with additional training and interest in occupational medicine to assist injured workers with a safe a timely return to work. They can be accessed by a WCB case worker or by an injured worker&rsquo;s regular family physician.</p> <p><strong>Centralized Surgical Services Program</strong> &ndash;To speed up care for injured workers returning to work, the WCB announced last month a new partnership with Annapolis Valley Health to implement centralized surgical services that use available operating room time and surgeon capacity not funded by the public healthcare system.</p> <p><strong>Maritime Occupational Medicine Continuing Medical Education</strong> &ndash; WCB is working with the Workers&rsquo; Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island, WorksafeNB and Dalhousie University Continuing Medical Education to develop accredited online education for Family Physicians. The first module, &ldquo;The Pitfalls of Prescribing Time Off&rdquo; was released in 2013 and new modules are in development.</p> <p><strong>Outreach and Relationship Building</strong> &ndash; The WCB continues to work with employers, workers, the medical community and many others to develop best practices that can help injured workers make a safe and timely return to work.</p> <p>We are seeing steady progress in reducing the number of Nova Scotians hurt on the job each year. And we are also seeing improvements in reducing the duration of time people are off the job due to an injury. Let&rsquo;s keep making progress in getting Nova Scotians back to work after an injury.</p>103New program supports safe and timely return to workhttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/96/new-program-supports-safe-and-timely-return-to-workGeneralTue, 22 Apr 2014 17:16:12 GMTThe Workers&rsquo; Compensation Board of Nova Scotia&rsquo;s mission is<br /> to reduce the number of people hurt or killed on the job in our province. We<br /> are seeing steady progress in reducing the number of people that are hurt each<br /> year, but even one injury is too many. If someone does get hurt, we are there<br /> to help them recover.<br /> <br /> Research shows the longer someone is away from work due to an<br /> injury, the less likely it becomes that they will ever return their job. Waiting<br /> for medical treatment can sometimes delay recovery. Ensuring timely access to<br /> surgical consultations and procedures can help injured workers recover and<br /> return to their regular lives and work more quickly.<br /> <br /> To help injured workers get speedier access to the surgical<br /> care they need, the Workers&rsquo; Compensation Board of Nova Scotia (WCB) is<br /> partnering with Annapolis Valley Health (AVH) to take advantage of unused capacity<br /> to provide timely centralized surgery services.<br /> <br /> &ldquo;We need to do everything we can to help injured workers recover.<br /> Ensuring they have timely access to surgical services can play a big part in<br /> helping them get back to their regular lives,&rdquo; says Stuart MacLean, CEO of the<br /> Workers&rsquo; Compensation Board of Nova Scotia. &ldquo;<br /> <br /> If you are an injured worker and your family doctor<br /> determines that you need a surgical consultation, you may be referred to the<br /> Centralized Surgical Services Program. Any necessary travel costs for<br /> consultations or treatment will be covered by the WCB. <br /> <br /> This program will have no impact on the public healthcare<br /> system. It uses existing operating room time and surgeon capacity not funded by<br /> the public system to provide surgical care to injured workers. <br /> <br /> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>96Celebrating Workplace Safety with Capital District Health Authority - Organizational Health Department https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/72/celebrating-safety-with-capital-district-health-authority-organizational-healthGeneralWed, 30 Oct 2013 16:27:33 GMT<strong>Employer Return to Work Champion - Capital District Health Authority&nbsp;</strong> <p><span style="line-height: 1.6;"><br /> As one of Nova Scotia&rsquo;s largest employers, the leadership team at Capital District Health Authority (CDHA) has continually proven its commitment to creating a safety culture within their organization. A commitment which is perhaps best highlighted through the work of the Organizational Health Department.</span></p> <p>Since 2005, CDHA has invested strategic resources into working with employees who experience time lost from work due to personal or work related injury/illness; and in the past couple of years has focused on musculoskeletal injuries as a result of patient handling.&nbsp;</p> <p>Dedicated positions were created within their Organizational Health Department to address time loss injuries, including a WCB Specialist &ndash; acting as a liaison between the employer and the Workers&rsquo; Compensation Board, and an Injury Prevention Specialist &ndash; working with clinical teams to implement and evaluate programs to reduce injuries related to patient handling and transferring activities.</p> <p>As a result, time lost due to injury decreased from 56 days in 2008, to 42 days in 2011.&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.6;">At CDHA, increased focus on injury prevention and creating a vibrant return to work program has not only resulted in fewer injuries and a decrease in time lost from the job but strengthened partnerships within the internal and external community.</span></p>72Safety is a Worthwhile Investmenthttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/69/safety-is-a-worthwhile-investmentGeneralWed, 04 Sep 2013 16:55:12 GMT<p>Now, more than ever, Nova Scotian employers that continue to focus on developing successful occupational health and safety prevention, and return-to-work programs are seeing reduced WCB premium costs. That&rsquo;s a fact.<br /> <span style="line-height: 1.6;"><br /> Injury trends in Nova Scotia are moving in the right direction. This year through the combined efforts of workers, employers and safety partners, we&rsquo;re seeing fewer claims and fewer workers requiring long-term benefits. &nbsp;Return-to-work programs are thriving, with employers accommodating workers with transitional duties allowing workers the time to heal, without having to leave their workplace.&nbsp;</span></p> <p>This is all part of a vibrant safety culture; one that is growing in this province and helping move us toward our goal of being the safest place to work in Canada.&nbsp;<br /> <span style="line-height: 1.6;"><br /> Yes, injuries are declining, but workplace fatalities remain an area of concern. This year has been especially tragic and there are persistent safety issues in some industries that need more focus. Yet, I remain encouraged by the level of leadership and commitment to health and safety that is emerging, especially in the fishing sector.</span></p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.6;">Most recently, I was at the Wedgeport Tuna Festival to promote the use of personal floatation devices and was overwhelmed by the number of fishermen who pledged to work safely and wear a PFD.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.6;">You see, both employers and employees have a part to play in making Nova Scotia workplaces healthier, but it&rsquo;s the employers that are in an incredible position of influence when it comes to workplace safety and creating return-to-work opportunities. Employers, captains, managers, foremen and supervisors can and must show leadership to make health and safety a commitment in their workplaces.&nbsp;</span><br /> <br /> Today, we released the 2014 WCB assessment rates, and of the 18,800 employers covered by the WCB, 56.5 per cent will see their rate go down or stay the same and 43.5 per cent will see an increase. The rates are relatively stable for 2014, with the average rate holding steady at $2.65 per $100 of assessable payroll.&nbsp;<br /> <span style="line-height: 1.6;"><br /> The average rate is determined by the current and future costs of workers&rsquo; compensation &ndash; including the unfunded liability. So while injuries are declining, the average rate is being maintained at a level that supports Nova Scotia&rsquo;s workplace safety system, and will allow us to retire the unfunded liability in about ten years.</span></p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.6;">For more detail on how WCB rates are set, along with the 2014 list of surcharged employers visit: <a href="http://worksafeforlife.ca/LinkClick.aspx?link=http%3a%2f%2fwww.wcb.ns.ca%2fwcbns%2findex_e.aspx%3fArticleID%3d715&amp;tabid=327&amp;mid=934" target="_parent">www.wcb.ns.ca</a>.&nbsp;</span></p> <p> </p>69Morgan 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>58