Safety MattersOur blog discussing workplace safety opportunities in Nova Scotia and around the world.https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblogBack to Better: Changing the story for workers recovering from injuryhttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/348/back-to-better-changing-the-story-for-workers-recovering-from-injuryGeneralFri, 05 May 2023 14:25:00 GMT<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/en_432x275_WCB_6187_01_returntowork_3.jpg?ver=G9QnOTBECCaAPbKwflWe_w%3d%3d" style="width: 432px; height: 275px;" /></p> <p>As part of the recent Atlantic Workplace Health and Safety Conference, WCB Workplace Consultant Jill Pulsifer told a story about Michael – a fictional worker dealing with the very real experience of having his life completely changed by workplace injury.</p> <p>It’s a story Jill knows all too well. In a previous job, she was injured at work and got firsthand experience of what it’s like to be off work, having to wait for treatment, and feeling unsure about what the future holds. </p> <p>“It’s the little losses that add up to have a big impact,” she said in her presentation at the 2023 Atlantic Workplace Health & Safety Conference, held in Halifax. For Michael, those losses include not being able to play with his children, not contributing to running a household, and not being able to enjoy physical activities. </p> <p>Today, Jill draws on her own experiences to help employers prepare return-to-work (RTW) programs, which, she says, done effectively, can help change the story for a worker who's "getting back to better." </p> <p>Employers with effective return-to-work programs can significantly reduce the impact of workplace injury for their employees, while helping them get back to their routine and regular life. In addition, return-to-work plans help maintain productivity in the workplace, reduce claims costs, and, in some cases, actually prevent injury. </p> <p>“Employers should be proud to tell their return-to-work stories,” says Jill. Having an effective return-to-work plan is the first place to start. </p> <p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fDmDYpMlWU0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p> <p>Follow along with Jill in the recorded version of her presentation as she takes you through the essential elements of a return-to-work plan, and the steps all employers can take to reduce the impact of workplace injuries. </p> <h2>Elements of a return-to-work plan </h2> <h3>Advanced planning </h3> <ul> <li>Return-to-work plans should not be reactive – have one in place before an injury occurs. Start planning now, no matter how small. </li> <li>Assess workplace functions and have a list of potential appropriate transitional duties ready. </li> <li>Develop a relationship with a health care supplier, such as a physiotherapist, so employees have direct access. </li> <li>Ideally, have a RTW coordinator or team that oversees the plan.</li> </ul> <h3>Education </h3> <ul> <li>Teach employees to recognize early signs of injury and seek proactive treatment. </li> <li>Ensure everyone knows about the RTW plan and understands what to expect in terms of about the return-to-work process and transitional duties. </li> <li>Share this information in simple, plain language, and do so frequently.  </li> </ul> <h3>Communication </h3> <ul> <li>Supervisors and managers should talk to employees regularly about how work is going and how the person is doing overall. </li> <li>Create a culture that encourages two-way dialogue about well-being, early intervention, and return to work.  </li> </ul> <h3>Support </h3> <ul> <li>Remind employees frequently how much you value and appreciate their contribution.</li> <li>Tell them that even when they are less than 100 per cent, they are still an important part of the team. </li> </ul> <h2>Return-to-Work Resources</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.wcb.ns.ca/Portals/wcb/Publications/W2W/W2W%20Employer%20guide-2020%20web.pdf">Employer's Guide for Managing Workplace Injuries</a> </li> <li><a href="https://www.wcb.ns.ca/Working-to-Well/Employers/Transitional-Work-for-Employers.aspx">Transitional Work</a> </li> <li><a href="https://www.wcb.ns.ca/Working-to-Well/Employers/Transitional-Work-for-Employers.aspx">Working to Well</a></li> </ul> <div> <h2>Getting Back is Part of Getting Better </h2> <p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/028XSR4rv9o" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p> <p>Safe, healthy work can often be part of recovery from workplace injury. The “Getting back is part of getting better” ad campaign reminds Nova Scotia’s workers and employers about the importance of maintaining a connection to the workplace after an injury. </p> <p>“Workplace injuries can drastically change lives, and in addition to the health impacts of the injury itself, disconnecting from work can take a compounding and significant toll on workers, their families, and our communities,” says Dennita Fitzpatrick, Vice President of Prevention and Return to Work for WCB Nova Scotia.</p> <p>“Every workplace injury is different, and recovery looks different for everyone, but one of the things we know is workers who stay at or connected to a supportive workplace suffer fewer complications and recover faster,” she says. “To change the impact of workplace injury in our province, we need to shift our thinking about the role work plays in recovery.”</p> <p>To learn more, visit <a href="https://www.wcb.ns.ca/Working-to-Well1.aspx">wcb.ns.ca/WorkingtoWell</a>. </p> </div> 348Workplace safety is a team sport. Which position do you play?https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/347/workplace-safety-is-a-team-sport-which-position-do-you-playGeneralWed, 03 May 2023 13:37:57 GMT<p><img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/Images/Soccer%20-%20IRS%20Blog.jpg?ver=W9Gs0SkQP8OFPx-Kw4nk_Q%3d%3d" style="width: 100%;" /></p> <p>In team sports, each team member plays a different position, but they contribute collectively to the outcome of the game. </p> <p>The team can only succeed if everyone is working together towards the same goal. It is strongest when everyone shares that vision and understands their individual responsibility to help the team succeed. Putting those principles in action in every training session, practice, or game helps the team get better every time. </p> <p>It’s a philosophy that easily extends to safety in the workplace. It’s at the core of the <a href="https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Your-Safety-Plan/Internal-Responsibility-System" target="_blank">Internal Responsibility System (IRS)</a>: every person in a workplace has the right, and the responsibility, to keep the workplace safe for themselves and each other.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Safety-and-Health-Week" target="_blank">Safety and Health Week</a> (May 1–6, 2023) is always a great time to remind ourselves that we share that responsibility, why it’s important, and how we can put it into action every day. It’s also an opportunity to think about the aspects of safety we are all becoming more aware of, such as psychological health and safety, and how the IRS protects them too.</p> <h2>Know your position </h2> <p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VUZDURM-zuc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p> <p>Whether you’re an employer or an employee, almost every decision you make, and almost every action you take, directly affects your safety and the safety of your teammates. </p> <p>Learn more about your responsibilities: </p> <table class="tablesaw tablesaw-stack" id="tablesaw-4827"> <tbody> <tr> <td><span class="tablesaw-cell-content"><strong></strong><span class="tablesaw-cell-content"><strong></strong><span class="tablesaw-cell-content"><strong></strong><span class="tablesaw-cell-content"><strong></strong><span class="tablesaw-cell-content"><a class="button--secondary" href="/Home/Your-Safety-Plan/Internal-Responsibility-System/For-Employers" target="_blank">Employer</a> </span></span></span></span></span></td> <td><span class="tablesaw-cell-content"><strong></strong><span class="tablesaw-cell-content"><strong></strong><span class="tablesaw-cell-content"><strong></strong><span class="tablesaw-cell-content"><strong></strong><span class="tablesaw-cell-content"><a class="button--secondary" href="/Home/Your-Safety-Plan/Internal-Responsibility-System/Employee-Rights-Responsibilities" target="_blank">Employee</a> </span></span></span></span></span></td> <td><span class="tablesaw-cell-content"><strong></strong><span class="tablesaw-cell-content"><strong></strong><span class="tablesaw-cell-content"><strong></strong><span class="tablesaw-cell-content"><strong></strong><span class="tablesaw-cell-content"><a class="button--secondary" href="/Home/Your-Safety-Plan/Internal-Responsibility-System/Helpful-Resources" target="_blank">More information</a> </span></span></span></span></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <h2> </h2> <h2>Run a drill </h2> <p>Good teams get better when they put their skills into practice, and practice often. Here are some things you can do through Safety and Health Week (or any time) to ensure your team is strong, and your workplace is as safe as possible.</p> <h3>Employers</h3> <ul> <li>Review your workplace’s safety plan – is it still up to date? You may want to consult your JOHS committee when doing this.</li> <li>What about psychological health and safety, is it included in your plan?</li> <li>Check PPE, equipment, machines, and materials – is everything in good working order?</li> </ul> <h3>Supervisors</h3> <ul> <li>Is training up to date for all employees?</li> <li>Have you done a hazard check recently?</li> </ul> <h3>Employees</h3> <ul> <li>Do you know you have the right to report hazards that you believe make the workplace unsafe?</li> <li>Do you know who to report them to?</li> <li>Do you understand your right to refuse unsafe work? </li> </ul> <p>Keeping our workplaces safe protects us all from injury, reduces absenteeism and turnover, and increases morale and productivity.   </p> <p>Healthy workplaces are good for everyone. When we all take responsibility, we all win. </p> <h2>Learn more about the IRS</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://novascotia.ca/lae/healthandsafety/SharedResponsibility.asp" target="_blank">Labour Skills and Immigration: Shared Responsibility </a></li> <li><a href="https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/occupational%20health%20and%20safety.pdf" target="_blank">Nova Scotia's Occupational Health and Safety Act</a> </li> <li><a href="https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/legisl/legislation/irs.html" target="_blank">OH&S Legislation in Canada - Internal Responsibility System</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/legisl/legislation/responsi.html" target="_blank">Health and Safety Legislation in Canada - Basic Responsibilities</a></li> </ul> 347How workplace injury impacted Nova Scotians in 2022https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/346/how-workplace-injury-impacted-nova-scotians-in-2022General,NewsMon, 01 May 2023 13:51:00 GMT<p><a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/2022-impact-of-workplace-injury-report.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click to read or download the report"><img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/Images/2022%20Impact%20of%20Workplace%20Injury%20Report%20-%20Injury%20Location.jpg?ver=s2L2FZJ00IOnbMuwGczjtA%3d%3d" style="width: 100%;" /></a></p> <p>Thanks to the efforts of safety champions from across the province, Nova Scotia is becoming a safer place to work. </p> <p>Last year, Nova Scotians were injured at work less frequently than the year prior. If they were injured seriously enough to lose time from work, on average, they were able to get back to work sooner. </p> <p>WCB Nova Scotia’s <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/2022-impact-of-workplace-injury-report.pdf" target="_blank">2022 Impact of Workplace Injury Report</a> includes the organization’s latest statistics on the number of workplace injuries, the most common types of injuries and how they occurred, which industries they were happening in and much more.  </p> <p>While the province is showing signs of progress in many areas, there is still more work to do make sure every Nova Scotian gets home safe. </p> <p>The numbers are a stark reminder of the very real human and economic toll workplace injuries take on our province, and why it is so important to make sure physical and psychological health and safety are always the number one priority. </p> <p>For Safety and Health Week, <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/2022-impact-of-workplace-injury-report.pdf" target="_blank">read and download the complete report</a> and talk about it in your workplace. </p> <p>What steps will you take to make sure even more Nova Scotians go home safe in 2023? </p> <p><a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Industry-Safety" target="_blank">Find out what risks exist in your industry</a> and use the<a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/portals/worksafeforlife/Comms-Publication-OHS%20Risk%20Mapping%20Tool.pdf?ver=2017-03-15-100223-570" target="_blank"> Risk Mapping Tool</a> to mitigate these risks. <a href="https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/healthy_workplaces" target="_blank">These resources are also available</a>. </p> <h2>Report Highlights</h2> <ul> <li>5,420 Nova Scotians were injured seriously enough to lose three or more days from work.</li> <li>Despite a slight increase in the total number of time loss injuries, the provincial injury rate improved to 1.54 per 100 covered workers, down from 1.58 in 2021, and is one of the lowest rates in the past ten years. In 2012, the injury rate was 1.96.</li> <li>Several <a href="https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Industry-Safety" target="_blank">industries</a> saw significant improvements in their injury rates in 2022, including retail, accommodation-food and beverage, and transportation.</li> <li><a href="https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Protecting-yourself/Musculoskeletal-Injuries" target="_blank">Sprains and strains</a> remain the number one type of workplace injury, accounting for more than half of all injuries that require time off to recover. Backs are still the part of the body that’s most often injured.</li> <li>A <a href="https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Protecting-yourself/Slips-Trips-Falls" target="_blank">slip, trip or fall </a>was the cause of more than 20 percent of all time-loss injuries.</li> <li>The age of Nova Scotians who experience an injury continues to increase. Workers over the age of 50 years now comprise over 37 per cent of all time loss claims.</li> <li>Fewer <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/youngworkers">young workers</a> were injured in 2022. Injuries among workers aged 20 to 24 years were down from 478 in 2021 to 449 in 2022. Injuries among younger workers under 20 years of age were down from 124 in 2021 to 119 in 2022.</li> </ul> <div>Learn more at <a href="https://www.wcb.ns.ca/About-Us/News-Room/News/WCB-Nova-Scotias-Impact-of-Workplace-Injury-Report-shows-continued-progress-May-1-23.aspx" target="_blank">wcb.ns.ca</a>. </div> 34610 ways to mark Safety and Health Week in your workplacehttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/345/10-ways-to-mark-safety-and-health-week-in-your-workplaceGeneralFri, 28 Apr 2023 17:40:19 GMT<p style="margin-bottom:16px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span arial="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#010101"></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:16px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span arial="" style="font-family:"><span style="color:#010101"><a href="https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Safety-and-Health-Week" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/Images/Safety and Health Week/Safety%20and%20Health%20Week-Background-1000.jpg?ver=D7ziCc9_lCEfkrdrbBuE0w%3d%3d" style="width: 100%;" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p>This year, May 1-6 is Safety and Health Week (formerly known as NAOSH Week) – a continent-wide initiative for employers, employees, safety partners, and the public to focus on the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace, at home, and in the community.</p> <p>Keeping our workplaces safe is always a priority for safety champions, but this week is a reminder to recommit, make a plan, and make safety stick - whatever industry you work in.</p> <p>Looking for ideas? Here are <strong>10 ideas to help you get started</strong>:</p> <ul> <li>Host a fun internal activity or contest to inspire your employees to exercise their right to participate in workplace safety. Remind employees about the <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Your-Safety-Plan/Internal-Responsibility-System" target="_blank">Internal Responsibility System</a>.</li> <li>Download and share Safety and Health Week graphics and find content suggestions in our <a href="https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Safety-and-Health-Week/Safety-and-Health-Week-Toolkit" target="_blank">toolkit</a>. </li> <li>Have <a href="https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Examples-of-Safe-Workplaces/Leaders" target="_blank">leadership</a> demonstrate their commitment to workplace safety by sending an all-staff message about Safety and Health Week.</li> <li>Make sure your <a href="https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Your-Safety-Plan/Get-Started/Create-a-Program" target="_blank">workplace safety programs</a> and policies are up to date, and take the opportunity to remind employees where they can find safety information.</li> <li>Host a screening of one of our recorded <a href="https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Webinars" target="_blank">safety webinars</a> for your employees, on topics such as psychological health and safety or preventing sprain and strain injuries.</li> <li>Listen to and share <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Examples-of-Safe-Workplaces/WorkShift-Podcast" target="_blank">episodes of the WorkShift podcast</a>, featuring some of Nova Scotia’s most inspirational workplace safety leaders.</li> <li><a href="https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Workplace-Safety-Kit" target="_blank">Order a Workplace Safety Kit</a> to refresh the safety signage in your workplace.</li> <li>Use our <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/use-the-risk-mapping-tool-to-help-prevent-injuries-in-your-workplace-may-2022" target="_blank">Risk Mapping Tool</a> to help identify, assess, and control injury hazards to help reduce injuries in your workplace.</li> <li>Ensure your workplace is ready to help support employees in the event of an injury by building out or refreshing your <a href="https://www.wcb.ns.ca/Working-to-Well1.aspx" target="_blank">return-to-work program</a>.</li> </ul> <p>Share your safety story on social media using #SafetyandHealthWeek, and tag us at <a href="https://twitter.com/WorkSafeForLife" target="_blank">@WorkSafeForLife</a>.</p> <div> <p>You can find even more workplace safety resources and inspiration at <a href="https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/" target="_blank">worksafeforlife.ca/SafetyandHealthWeek</a>. </p> <p>Regardless of where you work, or your role, you can be a safety leader. Demonstrate your commitment to workplace safety by participating in Safety and Health Week from May 1-6, and keep the momentum going all year-long.</p> </div> 345February 29 is Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Dayhttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/313/repetitive-strain-injury-awareness-dayErgonomics,GeneralMon, 27 Feb 2023 12:09:00 GMT<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/Images/water%20fight%20mom%20injury.jpg?ver=2021-02-25-132032-727" style="width: 500px; height: 358px; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;" /></span></strong></p> <p><strong> By: Shawn Budden </strong></p> <p><em>Shawn Budden is an Ergonomist with WCB Nova Scotia. He works with employers and industry groups to help prevent workplace injuries. </em></p> <p>February 29 (a fitting, non-repetitive day), or February 28 on non-leap years, is the international day to promote awareness and prevention for repetitive strain injuries (RSIs), also known as musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs). </p> <p>In 2023, sprains and strains accounted for 3,309 (or 63.4 per cent) of all time-loss claims registered with WCB Nova Scotia. </p> <div> <p>The good news is, most MSIs are easily preventable. Learn more about the risks and how to prevent them in your workplace below. </p> <h2>What are MSIs?</h2> <p>The term MSI is used to classify injuries caused by excess demand on the soft tissues of the body. This includes tendons, muscles, or nerves, with injuries regularly involving the neck, shoulders, elbows and wrists. Common injuries are carpal tunnel syndrome and lateral epicondylitis or “tennis elbow”. </p> <h2>Risk Factors</h2> <p>Any physical task that is performed regularly has a degree of risk for developing an MSI. In Nova Scotia, these types of injuries are common for workers in health care, construction, fishing, or any field where lifting, exertion or repetitive tasks are integral to the job. </p> <p>Movements such as reaching, gripping, and lifting occur every day and do not typically result in injury, but risk of injury increases when these movements involve one or more of the following factors: </p> <ul> <li>Frequent repetition, or doing the same movement over and over again</li> <li>Improper posture</li> <li>Managing heavy physical loads</li> <li>Inadequate breaks</li> </ul> <h2>Signs and Symptoms</h2> <p>In addition to understanding the risk factors for MSIs, it’s important to identify the warning signs early. Work adjustments and treatments are more successful when applied during the initial stages of injury. Signs and symptoms can include:</p> <ul> <li>Pain</li> <li>Joint stiffness</li> <li>Muscles aches</li> <li>Redness and swelling</li> <li>Numbness and tingling </li> </ul> <p>If you are experiencing signs or symptoms of an MSI, talk to your employer or health and safety representative about making accommodations as soon as possible, and seek medical attention if necessary. </p> <h2>Prevention</h2> <p>Most MSIs are preventable with a few simple adjustments to your workspace and routines.  </p> <h3>Education and awareness </h3> <p>Awareness is the first step to reducing the occurrence and severity of MSIs. Talk with colleagues and employees about the risk factors and warning signs. WCB Nova Scotia has lots of <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Protecting-your-Body/Musculoskeletal-Injuries/MSI-Tools-for-Industry" target="_blank">great resources</a> to help facilitate conversations about the importance prevention in your workplace. </p> <h3>Hazard Identification and Control</h3> <p>Workstations and jobs can be assessed to minimize or eliminate risk factors through design (i.e. mechanical lifts) or controls such as job rotation to reduce worker fatigue. Our <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/STF%20Page/Risk%20mapping%20tool-2020-Dec%2018-WEB.pdf?ver=2021-01-06-083512-773" target="_blank">Risk Mapping Tool</a> will help you identify problems areas and possible solutions. </p> <h3>Training</h3> <p>Employees should understand controls and how to adjust workstations to reduce the likelihood of fatigue and injury. Download our <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/Documents/Comms-Publication-Guide%20to%20Prevent%20MSI-2018.pdf?ver=2020-02-18-123708-720" target="_blank">MSI Prevention Guide</a> to get started. You can follow along as I take you through the guide and show you how to apply simple and effective changes in your workplace: </p> <p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/liz0plb7ptA" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br />  </p> <p>To learn more about MSIs and how they can be prevented, please visit:<br /> <a href="https://www.ccohs.ca/events/rsi/" target="_blank">Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety</a><br /> <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Protecting-your-Body/Musculoskeletal-Injuries" target="_blank">WCB Nova Scotia</a><br /> <a href="https://ergonomicscanada.ca/en/our-profession-resources" target="_blank">Association of Canadian Ergonomists</a></p> <h2>Return to Work </h2> </div> <div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/028XSR4rv9o" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div> <div> </div> <div>Safe, healthy work can often be an important part of recovery from workplace injury. Most sprains and strains can be treated right away, sometimes on the same day with a WCB-approved health care provider. </div> <div> </div> <div>If you’re able to stay at work or return to work during your recovery, your health care provider will help determine what work you can safely do. Learn more at <a href="https://www.wcb.ns.ca/Working-to-Well1.aspx" target="_blank">wcb.ns.ca/WorkingtoWell</a>. </div> <p> </p> 313Crew of the 'Miss Ally' remembered on 10-year anniversaryhttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/344/crew-of-the-miss-ally-remembered-on-10-year-anniversaryGeneralFri, 17 Feb 2023 17:15:29 GMT<p><img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/Images/Miss%20Ally.jpg?ver=6C-A4n-6nBuapU7G5q_8LA%3d%3d" style="width: 100%;" /></p> <p>Ten years ago today on February 17, 2013, five fishermen from Shelburne County were lost to the sea on the ‘Miss Ally,’ a fishing vessel based out of Woods Harbour.</p> <p>The boat capsized after being hit by a large wave off the coast of Liverpool.</p> <p>The loss of Captain Katlin Nickerson, Joel Hopkins, Cole Nickerson, Tyson Townsend and Billy Jack Hatfield continues to be felt to this day. </p> <p>Our thoughts are with their families, loved ones, and communities on this sombre anniversary.</p> <p>We join all Nova Scotians in remembering the crew, and strengthen our commitment to doing all we can to help Nova Scotians get home safely from work every day.  </p> <h2>Media Coverage </h2> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/news/miss-ally-remembered-10-years-since-tragedy-claimed-five-shelburne-county-fishermen-100824855/" target="_blank">Miss Ally remembered: 10 years since tragedy claimed five Shelburne County fishermen (Saltwire)</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/news/miss-ally-remembered-would-do-it-again-in-a-heartbeat-says-diver-who-searched-capsized-vessel-100824912/" target="_blank">Miss Ally remembered: 'Would do it again in a heartbeat' says diver who searched capsized vessel (Saltwire) </a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="http://Miss Ally remembered: 'Tell me a Joel story' mother of lost fisherman asks others" target="_blank">Miss Ally remembered: 'Tell me a Joel story' mother of lost fisherman asks others (Saltwire)</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://www.1015thehawk.com/2023/02/16/miss-ally-tragedy-remembered-ten-years-later/" target="_blank">‘Miss Ally’ Tragedy Remembered Ten Years Later (Acadia Broadcasting)</a></p> </li> </ul> <h2>Fishing Safety </h2> <div> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bL5lBvt0a_4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div> <p> </p> <p>Following the Miss Ally disaster, safety leaders in Nova Scotia's fishing sector came together with fishermen, owners, fleet managers and family members to form the Safe at Sea Alliance in 2014. Together, the group worked to address issues and strengthen the safety culture in the industry. </p> <p>The <a href="https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/Fishing%20Safety%20Now_FINAL.pdf?ver=2019-06-27-084557-257" target="_blank">Fishing Safety Now Action Plan</a> was developed by the Safe at Sea Alliance, and outlined recommendations to help grow the industry's safety culture.</p> <p>Today, fewer fishermen are injured at work, and the assessment rate for the industry is roughly half of what it was in 2013. Still, Nova Scotians are dying at sea, and one fatality is too many. While there has been significant progress in changing the safety culture in the sector, there is always more to do. </p> <div> </div> <div> </div> <p> </p> 344Making and keeping safety a priority for Nova Scotia’s young workershttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/322/making-and-keeping-safety-a-priority-for-nova-scotias-young-workersGeneralTue, 29 Jun 2021 17:57:34 GMT<p><img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/Young%20Worker%20Safety%20Booth.jpg?ver=2021-06-29-145650-997" style="vertical-align: top;" /></p> <p>When most Nova Scotians were asked to stay home during the pandemic, many young workers went to work on the frontlines, filling the essential services roles that kept the province going.</p> <p><span>They filled take-out orders, they checked out groceries, they worked drive-thru windows and so much more. Sadly, many of them got hurt doing it.</span></p> <p><span>In 2020, 2,741 workers under the age of 25 were injured on the on job in Nova Scotia &ndash; 519 of them lost time from work because of their injuries, compared to 592 in 2019 and 593 in 2018.</span></p> <p><span>As high school ends, summer job season begins.</span></p> <p><span>For many young workers, it could be their first job. And those first jobs will influence the safety standards they will carry with them through the rest of their careers. Those who enter the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic should see workplace safety at the forefront like never before &ndash; it will be up to all of us to ensure those standards apply long after it's over. </span></p> <p><span>As we begin to emerge from the pandemic, young workers, their employers, parents and teachers can help reinforce and demonstrate that their safety is the number one priority when it comes to preventing <em>all </em>workplace injury and illness. </span></p> <h3> </h3> <h3> </h3> <strong> <h3><span>Your Responsibilities and Opportunities</span></h3> </strong> <table style="width: 100%; background-color: #dbe5f1;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #1f497d;"> <h4>Workers</h4> </td> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #1f497d;"> <h4>Employers</h4> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #ffffff;"> <p>As an employee, you are expected to take every reasonable precaution to protect your own health and safety, and that of other people at or near the workplace.</p> <p><span>You have a right to know about workplace hazards and how to keep yourself and others safe, to take part in making the workplace safe, and to refuse work that is not safe</span><span> for you or another worker.</span></p> <p><em><span>Read more: </span></em><span><a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Your-Safety-Plan/Internal-Responsibility-System/Employee-Rights-Responsibilities"><em><span>Internal Responsibility System</span></em></a></span></p> </td> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #ffffff;"> <p><span style="color: #444444;">Under the OH&amp;S Act, employers must take every reasonable precaution to ensure the health and safety of people at or near the workplace.</span></p> <p><span>When it comes to young workers, you have an obligation to provide leadership and mentorship to help them understand why workplace safety should be their number one priority. You are required to help them access the tools and training they need to make it so.</span></p> <p><em><span> Read more: </span></em><span><a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Tools-for-a-Safer-Workplace/For-Young-Workers/Supervisors-Its-your-Job"><em>Supervisors, It&rsquo;s Your Job</em></a></span>&nbsp;</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #1f497d;"> <h4>Parents</h4> </td> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #1f497d;"> <h4>Teachers</h4> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #ffffff;"> <p>You taught your kids to look both ways and to not talk to strangers. It is just as important to talk to your kids about workplace safety. Young workers and new workers are five times more likely to be hurt in the first month than workers who have been in their current job more than one year. Ask your child about their safety at work.</p> <p><em><span> Read more: </span></em><span><a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Prevention-Campaigns/Young-Workers/For-Parents"><em>For Parents</em></a><em>; </em><a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Prevention-Campaigns/Young-Workers/For-Parents/Questions-to-Ask-Your-Kid"><em>Questions to Ask Your Kid</em></a></span></p> </td> <td style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #ffffff;"> <p>Workplace health and safety education and training are vital to how students and adult learners think about staying safe at work. Our free resources are designed to support teaching and learning in career colleges, community based learning organizations and the public school system.</p> <p><em><span>Read more: </span></em><span><a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Classroom-Resources"><em>Classroom Resources</em></a></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <strong> <h3> </h3> <h3> Resources for Young Workers</h3> </strong> <p><span>The resources below can be used and shared to help young workers understand their rights and responsibilities, and help set them up for long-term success.&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></p> <span> <table style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Tools-for-a-Safer-Workplace/For-Young-Workers/Industry-Stats-and-Tips" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/WorkSafeForLife.png?ver=2021-06-29-162722-630" style="width: 150px; height: 105px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></td> <td style="width: 70%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;"> <p><a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Tools-for-a-Safer-Workplace/For-Young-Workers/Industry-Stats-and-Tips" target="_blank"><strong>Worksafeforlife.ca/youngworkers</strong></a><strong><br /> </strong>Check out our young worker hub for a compilation of some of our best tips and prevention resources for young workers, including videos, discussion guides, workplace kits and much more. &nbsp;We&rsquo;re always adding new blogs and safety resources to worksafeforlife.ca, so be sure to come back often!</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75EcPtideaI" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/YW%20Rod%20Stickman.PNG?ver=2021-06-29-162329-417" style="width: 150px; height: 84px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></td> <td style="width: 70%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75EcPtideaI" style="background-color: #f4f4f4;" target="_blank"><strong>Rod Stickman &ndash; Young Worker Health and Safety</strong></a> <p>Meet Rod Stickman. Fun, a little quirky, and packed with information (plus a cow, a bear, and a monkey) this video covers big issues in workplace safety, in an entertaining way. It's a great way to get the conversation about safety started, for young workers and veterans alike. Use our <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Portals/worksafeforlife/WorkSafe_Young-Worker-Discussion-Guide.pdf">discussion guides</a> and tip sheets to cover what you learned together.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Portals/worksafeforlife/FINAL_2012_young_worker%20brochurev5%20_%20OCT16-2012.pdf" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/YW%20Brochure.PNG?ver=2021-06-29-162024-563" style="width: 150px; height: 113px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></td> <td style="width: 70%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Portals/worksafeforlife/FINAL_2012_young_worker%20brochurev5%20_%20OCT16-2012.pdf" style="background-color: #f4f4f4;" target="_blank"><strong>Staying Safe on the Job - Young Worker Brochure</strong></a> <p><span style="color: windowtext;">This downloadable/printable brochure includes important information for young workers on their rights, how to identify risks, and tips for talking to their boss about safety. Make it a part of your orientation package for all young workers.</span><span style="color: windowtext;">&nbsp;</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Tools-for-a-Safer-Workplace/For-Young-Workers/Safety-Sticks" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/YW%20safety-sticks-kit.jpg?ver=2021-06-29-161812-307" style="width: 150px; height: 133px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></td> <td style="width: 70%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Tools-for-a-Safer-Workplace/For-Young-Workers/Safety-Sticks" style="background-color: #f4f4f4;" target="_blank"><strong>Young Worker Safety Kit</strong></a> <p>The Safety Sticks kit is designed to help prevent young worker injuries by opening up a dialogue about workplace safety. The kit includes tools and strategies to help you work together with your young workers to create a safer work environment, including informative stickers, posters, pledge forms and more. Order your free kit today.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Tools-for-a-Safer-Workplace/For-Young-Workers/Q-A" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/YW%20QA.png?ver=2021-06-29-153954-693" style="width: 150px; height: 150px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></td> <td style="width: 70%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;"><strong><a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Tools-for-a-Safer-Workplace/For-Young-Workers/Q-A" style="background-color: #f4f4f4;" target="_blank">Q&amp;A for Young Workers</a></strong> <p><em>If I&rsquo;m hurt at work, what do I do? Who do I go to if I have any safety concerns?</em> Young workers have lots of great questions, and we&rsquo;ve got answers. Check out our FAQ section that will help your young workers understand some of the safety basics they may be wondering about, and make sure to discuss the specific details about your workplace.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Tools-for-a-Safer-Workplace/What-Matters-Most-Quiz" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/YW%20WMM%20Quiz.PNG?ver=2021-06-29-153954-613" style="width: 150px; height: 136px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></td> <td style="width: 70%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Tools-for-a-Safer-Workplace/What-Matters-Most-Quiz" style="background-color: #f4f4f4;" target="_blank"><strong>What Matters Most Safety Quiz</strong></a> <p>Put everything you learned on worksafeforlife.ca to the test by taking our safety quiz. Get any wrong? Take another look around the site to find the information you need to ensure you're set up for success.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;">&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ccohs.ca/youngworkers/" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/YW%20CCOHS%20Young%20Workers.PNG?ver=2021-06-29-153714-833" style="width: 150px; height: 87px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></td> <td style="width: 70%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.ccohs.ca/youngworkers/" target="_blank">CCOHS &ndash; Young Worker Zone</a></span></strong> <p>The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.ccohs.ca/youngworkers/">Young Worker Zone</a> provides resources for workers, employers, parents and teachers, including videos, fact sheets, posters, quizzes and much more. Spend some time browsing through this section and encourage your co-workers to do the same.&nbsp;</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </span> <p>&nbsp;</p> <table style="width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="background-color: #ffd203;"> <h5>How are Nova Scotia's young workers getting hurt?&nbsp;</h5> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Here are some of the ways workers under 25 were hurt in 2020:&nbsp;<br /> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><span>Splashed hot frying oil, burning face and left hand</span></li> <li><span>Heavy metal door slammed on pinky finger, fractured</span></li> <li><span>Slipped on ice and fell, injured lower back</span></li> <li><span>Tree log fell onto worker's left shoulder </span></li> <li><span>Frost bite from wet boots while working at a garden centre</span></li> <li><span>Crab claw went through glove while unloading boat, skin penetrated near a ligament</span></li> <li><span>Jumped off back of truck, knee popped out of place </span></li> </ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #ffd203;"> <h5>Which industries are Nova Scotia's young workers getting hurt in?</h5> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Retail: </strong>526 young workers in 2020<br /> <strong>Accommodation, Food and Beverage:</strong> 225 young workers in 2020<br /> <strong>Manufacturing: </strong>320 young workers in 2020<br /> <strong>Construction:</strong> 350 young workers in 2020<br /> <br /> Find injury prevention tips for these industries <a href="/Home/Injury-Prevention/Tools-for-a-Safer-Workplace/For-Young-Workers/Industry-Stats-and-Tips" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>322Honouring Nova Scotia's miners on Davis Dayhttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/321/honour-nova-scotias-miners-on-davis-dayGeneralFri, 11 Jun 2021 14:08:47 GMT<p><span>June 11 is Davis Day, an annual day of remembrance of miners who died on the job in Nova Scotia.&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Davis Day, formally known as William Davis Miners&rsquo; Day and also known as Miners Memorial Day, originated in memory of William Davis, a coal miner who was killed during protest by striking miners.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> The 1925 protest occurred near New Waterford after the mining company cut off the water and electricity supply during a long and bitter miners' strike. Residents marched on the pumping station at Waterford Lake demanding that the utilities be restored. During a confrontation with armed company police, shots were fired and Davis was killed.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> To remember this incident, the&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Mine_Workers_of_America" target="_blank">United Mine Workers of America</a>&nbsp;designated the day in his honour, with miners in Nova Scotia vowing to never work on "Davis Day" ever again. The United Mine Workers union organizes Davis Day events across the province. &nbsp;In 1985, Miners' Memorial Park in New Waterford was re-named Davis Square.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Davis Day is a solemn reminder of all those who have died in Nova Scotia&rsquo;s mines and the importance of advocating for workplace safety.</span></p> <h3>Learn more about Davis Day: </h3> <p><a href="https://museumofindustry.novascotia.ca/nova-scotia-industry/coal-mining/miners-memorial-day-davis-day" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://museumofindustry.novascotia.ca/nova-scotia-industry/coal-mining/miners-memorial-day-davis-day" target="_blank">Miners Memorial Day (Davis Day)</a>&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;Nova Scotia Museum of Industry<br /> <a href="https://archives.novascotia.ca/meninmines/life/davis/" target="_blank">Davis Day Through the Years: A Cape Breton Coalmining Tradition</a> &ndash; Nova Scotia Archives<br /> <a href="https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/culture/cseh-twih/202123" target="_blank">This Week in History &ndash; &ldquo;Standing the Gaff&rdquo;</a> &ndash; Parks Canada<em style="background-color: #f4f4f4;"></em></p>321Use the Risk Mapping Tool to help prevent injuries in your workplacehttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/319/use-the-risk-mapping-tool-to-help-prevent-injuries-in-your-workplaceGeneralThu, 06 May 2021 20:11:58 GMT<p><span><a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/STF%20Page/Risk%20mapping%20tool-2020-Dec%2018-WEB.pdf?ver=2021-01-06-083512-773" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/Pages%20from%20Risk%20mapping%20tool-2020-Dec%2018-WEB.jpg?ver=2021-05-06-170705-960" style="width: 300px; height: 390px; float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;" /></a>Great safety leaders take a proactive approach to identifying risks in their own workplace to prevent injuries before they happen.</span></p> <p><span>One of the first key steps to knowing how to prevent injuries in your workplace is to understand where and why they&rsquo;re happening.</span></p> <p><span>No matter where you work, <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/STF%20Page/Risk%20mapping%20tool-2020-Dec%2018-WEB.pdf?ver=2021-01-06-083512-773" target="_blank">WCB Nova Scotia&rsquo;s Occupational Health and Safety (OH&amp;S) Risk Mapping Tool </a>can be used to help identify, assess, and control injury hazards to help reduce injuries.</span></p> <p><span>This resource has been used by many Nova Scotia workplaces to help them successfully assess and understand their own unique risks, and how to implement the appropriate controls to prevent injuries in their workplace. Read more about the tool below and add your workplace to our list of safety success stories.</span></p> <strong> <h3>How to use the OH&amp;S Risk Mapping Tool</h3> </strong><span> </span> <p><span>The OH&amp;S Risk Mapping Tool is designed to be used in two ways:</span></p> <p><span>First, it can help you identify where and why your employees are being injured. Second, it can be used as a proactive inspection tool to help identify where hazards exist, even if no incidents have yet occurred.</span></p> <p><span>Within the tool, you will find a flow chart that outlines the basic steps for each option. Follow the flow chart to determine how the tool can best help you.</span></p> <strong> <h3>Getting Started </h3> </strong> <p><span>Once you have identified a starting point, follow the detailed instructions in the rest of the document to begin your risk mapping exercise.</span></p> <p><span>In the back half of the Risk Mapping Tool, you will find an appendix that features sketch maps, worksheets, action plan templates and other resources that can you can customize for your workplace.</span></p> <strong> <h3>Next Steps </h3> </strong> <p><span>The Risk Mapping Tool contains a list of other helpful resources that will help you turn your assessment into an action plan.</span></p> <p><span>On page 12, you will find links to information on preventing specific types of injuries, hazard control tips, psychological health and safety and much more.</span></p> <strong> <h3>More like the Risk Mapping Tool </h3> </strong> <p><span>WCB Nova Scotia offers a wide range of free safety planning and prevention resources for workplaces, no matter which stage of safety planning you&rsquo;re in.</span></p> <p><span>Visit the </span><span><a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Employer-Checklists"><span>Employer Checklists &amp; Resources</span></a></span><span> page for resources on hazard recognition and response, what to do in the event of an incident or injury, and even more customizable tools that will help you understand your workplace&rsquo;s unique safety concerns.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>Be sure to browse through worksafeforlife.ca for lots more, and set your workplace up for success.</span></p> <p><em><span>We&rsquo;re always adding new resources! </span></em><span><a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/About-Us/Safe-Secure-Enews"><em><span>Sign up for our e-newsletter</span></em></a></span><em><span> to be the first to know when new tools are available.&nbsp; </span></em></p>319Engaging everyone to create a workplace safety culturehttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/312/engaging-everyone-to-create-a-workplace-safety-cultureGeneralFri, 30 Oct 2020 12:55:08 GMT<div><img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/Autoport%202.jpg?ver=2020-10-30-095422-997" /><br /> </div> <p>Focus, dedication and collaboration are key components to making safety an integral part of workplace culture. Autoport Limited have demonstrated these and were recently recognized through WCB Nova Scotia&rsquo;s Workplace Recognition Program as a leader and champion that is committed to preventing workplace injuries and to promoting an early and safe return to the workplace.</p> WCB&rsquo;s Workplace Recognition Program acknowledges significant health and safety improvements and best-in-class approaches made by employers. Autoport Limited, one of North America&rsquo;s largest vehicle processing and transshipment facilities, worked with WCB through our coaching services to establish new practices for injury reduction, helping workers return to work, increased JOHSC effectiveness and communication strategies to further educate workers.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> With approximately 350 workers, Autoport Limited is a key employer who many Canadians rely on. They make sure we have access to the automobiles we need to keep our own businesses moving, but most importantly our families. This is also true for all of the workers at Autoport Limited. It&rsquo;s important for them to return home safely so they can make the most of their weekends with friends, and help get their families to where they need to go &ndash; like hockey or volleyball practice.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> To ensure all workers are safe at work, Autoport Limited took a collaborative approach to creating and implementing their safety initiatives. This meant having conversation at all levels of the organization from senior leaders and supervisors, to front-line personnel; and building partnerships with the union and JOHSC.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> <br /> This engagement led to everyone at Autoport Limited living a workplace safety culture. Safety training was made available for all, workers made decisions to only do something if they could do so safely, and focus was put on what someone with an injury could do instead of what they can&rsquo;t do, helping them either stay at work or return to work safely. All of this moved Autoport Limited to all but eliminating $178,000 in claims costs, a major accomplishment.&nbsp;312Take the sting out of summerhttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/309/take-the-sting-out-of-summerGeneralThu, 30 Jul 2020 18:47:28 GMT<p><span>While the summer season is typically a time when many Nova Scotians step back and relax after the rigours of a long winter, it&rsquo;s still important to be aware of warm-weather safety hazards, and take steps to reduce risk.</span></p> <p><strong><span>Sun safety</span></strong></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to the Canadian Cancer Society, Nova Scotia has some of the highest rates of melanoma in Canada. To reduce your risk, cover up with hats, pants and long sleeves, and always wear sunglasses with UV protection.<span style="padding: 0cm; border: 1pt none windowtext;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Use a sunscreen and lip balm with at least an SPF 30, and spend time in the shade or indoors during breaks. Be sure to report any changes in your skin or suspicious moles to your doctor. Learn more about how to work safely in the sun, </span><span><a href="https://www.ccohs.ca/newsletters/hsreport/issues/2011/06/ezine.html"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">here.</span></a></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dog Bite Prevention</span></strong></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The risk of dog bites for home-visit workers increases during the summer, as more pets spend time outside. Even the friendliest dog can become territorial when a stranger approaches their home. While it&rsquo;s up to pet owners to make sure their property is safe for home-visit workers, being prepared is always the best approach. </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, you can protect yourself from being attacked or bitten on the job, by:</span></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Resisting the urge to give treats to dogs, no matter how friendly the animal may seem to be.</span></li> <li style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Keeping a safe distance between you and the dog even if it is on a leash.</span></li> <li style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Avoid approaching a dog that is sleeping, barking, snarling, eating or caring for puppies. If they feel vulnerable they may fight to protect their territory.</span></li> <li style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you believe a dog is about to attack, position yourself so that you have something between you and the dog, such as a tree, bench, post, backpack or bicycle.</span></li> <li style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don't run past a dog as it will naturally want to chase and catch you.</span></li> <li style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Never approach a dog that appears to be in pain.</span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Take the sting out of summer</span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While many insect stings cause only mild pain and swelling, others can be more serious and require medical attention, especially for people with specific allergies. Insects like bees, wasps or hornets can also be a dangerous distraction while driving or working outdoors. Reduce your risk of getting stung this summer, by:</span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0cm; list-style-type: disc;"> <li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Keeping an eye out for nests</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wear long sleeves, pants and closed-toe shoes</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Avoid wearing bright colours, as these tend to attract stinging insects</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Avoid swatting at bees or wasps; stay still until they pass by</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If a bee or wasp flies into your vehicle, find a safe place to stop, open windows and doors </span></li> <li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Avoid wearing scented products</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Find more information and prevention tips, </span><span><a href="https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/biol_hazards/bees_wasps.html"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">here</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.</span></p>309Managing COVID-19 risk at Nova Scotia Powerhttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/308/managing-covid-19-risk-at-nova-scotia-powerCOVID-19Tue, 05 May 2020 19:23:51 GMT<p><span><img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/NovaScotiaPowerCOVID.jpg?ver=2020-05-05-162234-870" /><br /> </span></p> <p><span>Nova Scotia&rsquo;s electrical power service provider has expanded its industry-leading health and safety program to help keep workers, contractors and customers safe during COVID-19.</span></p> <p><span>&ldquo;We are always focused on continuously improving our strong safety culture&rdquo;, explains NSP Director-Safety Sean Brennan. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s something that everyone participates in, no matter where they work or what they do.&rdquo;</span></p> <p><span>As COVID-19 began to spread in Canada, Nova Scotia Power developed scenarios for all of its various work environments, to make sure every employee had a step-by-step plan for working safely. The company introduced new preventive measures across the business, including frequent hand washing, physical distancing of 2m/6ft, and self-monitoring for symptoms. New protocols were also put in place for contractors working at NSP facilities or alongside NSP employees, including a screening questionnaire to ensure contractors are symptom and exposure-free before entering a work site.</span></p> <p><span>When the virus reached Nova Scotia, the team at NSP was ready and made changes to how they work to keep employees safe and healthy, while continuing to provide electricity service across the province. Following the guidance of provincial health authorities, the company restricted public visitors at depots and plants, suspended all non-essential services, ramped up its cleaning protocols and distributed additional PPE. Employees were directed to work from home or work separated shifts where possible.</span></p> <p><span>For workers heading out to complete service or repair work, more precautions are required. Under these scenarios employees now safely travel to work sites in separate vehicles. They treat all surfaces as possibly contaminated and use latex or rubber gloves to do their work set up, before switching to safety gloves. Prevention protocols for emergency calls are even more rigorous. For these, employees are instructed to assume there&rsquo;s a risk, and to wear face shields, masks and gloves. Other preventive measures at work sites include no hand shaking, frequent cleaning and no sharing snacks.</span></p> <p><span>New measures are in place at NSP&rsquo;s customer service centre too, where many employees are now working from home to reduce the volume of staff within the centre. Employees are regularly cleaning their workstations and headsets, maintaining a safe distance, and taking precautions when handling packages delivered to work. </span></p> <p><span>A final important aspect to NSP&rsquo;s approach is empowering employees to help and remind one another to work safely. &ldquo;This is no different than the way we work together every day to identify and mitigate workplace hazards,&rdquo; says Sean. &ldquo;If you see something that has the potential to cause harm, speak up,&nbsp; tell the people you work with, and take action to remove or reduce the risk. We want everyone to view COVID-19 and their responsibility to take an active role in prevention the exact same way.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span></p>308Safety and Health Week 2020https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/307/safety-and-health-week-2020COVID-19,General,NewsMon, 04 May 2020 19:36:50 GMT<p><span>This week, May 3 - 9, workplaces across Nova Scotia will mark Safety and Health Week without the usual in-person gatherings that help connect and remind employers and workers to make safety a top priority. </span></p> <p><span>Along with new ways to work safely, many are finding new ways to celebrate, including virtual events and activities that highlight this year&rsquo;s Safety Week theme: <em>Together we can create safer workplaces and communities</em>. </span></p> <p><span>If you&rsquo;re looking for ideas and activities for Safety and Health Week in your workplace, a good place to start is by checking out the COVID-19 prevention resources available at <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/covid19">worksafeforlife.ca</a>. </span></p> <p><span>From there you can:</span></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><span>Watch, listen, and share our <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/COVID-19/New-Ways-to-Work-Safely">new ways of working safely COVID-19 prevention ads and videos</a></span></li> <li><span>Review and share <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/COVID-19/Working-Safely-by-Industry">COVID-19 safety tips for your industry</a></span></li> <li><span>Order, download, print, and share new COVID-19 prevention posters</span></li> <li><span>Check out all of our <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention">other great workplace prevention and return to work resources</a></span></li> </ul> <p><span>For more information about Safety and Health Week activities across Canada, visit <a href="http://www.naosh.ca/">www.naosh.ca</a> </span></p>307The importance of safety leadershiphttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/306/the-importance-of-safety-leadershipCOVID-19,GeneralMon, 04 May 2020 19:30:23 GMT<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pc73X8so3i8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe> <p><span><br /> </span></p> <p><span>Leadership has always been an essential catalyst for workplace safety. Never has that been more true than during the current COVID-19 pandemic. </span></p> <p><span>Suddenly, routine workplace activities and interactions require stringent safety protocols in order to reduce risk. The measures put in place to prevent virus spread help keep us safe, but also make us feel isolated and vulnerable. Much is known, but there&rsquo;s still lots we don&rsquo;t know, including when or if things will get back to normal.</span></p> <p><span>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s at a time like this that we need safety leaders the most,&rdquo; says Stuart MacLean, CEO WCB Nova Scotia. </span></p> <p><span>Safety leaders play a significant role in safety performance: during the current pandemic, throughout Safety and Health Week, and all year long. </span></p> <p><span>&ldquo;It takes more than rules to make workplaces safe,&rdquo; says Stuart. &ldquo;Safety leaders set standards and values. They connect, motivate, and inspire others to work safely. They&rsquo;re visible on the front line, leading by example and working proactively to reduce risk. And they only do something if they can do it safely.&rdquo;</span></p> <p><span>The <a href="https://nshealthandsafetycharter.ca/">Nova Scotia Health and Safety Leadership Charter</a> is one way that senior leaders are demonstrating their commitment to safety. </span></p> <p><span>With more than a hundred members representing more than 80,000 workers, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; color: black;">the Charter commits CEOs to the continuous growth of a positive workplace safety culture. The Charter is based on the principle that effective management of health, safety, and wellness is essential to the operation of a successful business, and a more prosperous province.</span></p> <p><span>Many safety professionals have job titles like &lsquo;Safety Manager&rsquo;. And they do important work, making sure their organizations have the programs, tools and training needed to work safely. </span></p> <p><span>But you don&rsquo;t need to have a title to be a leader. A safety leader can be anyone who has a positive influence on safety, is focused on prevention, and actively works to drive improvement.</span></p> <p><span>In organizations with more than 20 employees, the Joint Occupational Health and Safety (JOHS) Committee provides safety leadership, by making sure policies and practices are in place that reduce risk and support a safety culture. The JOHS committee facilitates communication about safety between workers and employers, and collaborates to develop safety solutions.</span></p> <p><span>Regardless of where you work, or how big or small your business, Safety and Health Week provides an important opportunity for everyone to be a safety leader. This week, take time to pause and reflect on safety, and to reinforce the principles and practices that make your workplace safe. </span></p> <p><span>Here are a few ideas for activities that <em>you</em> can lead during Safety and Health Week in your workplace:</span></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><span>Have a toolbox talk each day, featuring the COVID-19 prevention resources, available <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/covid19">here</a></span></li> <li><span>Take advantage of free online health and safety courses, available for all Nova Scotians, <a href="https://www.ccohs.ca/catalog/courses_list_nova.php">here</a></span></li> <li><span>Do a <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Tools-for-a-Safer-Workplace/What-Matters-Most-Quiz">safety quiz</a> with your co-workers</span></li> </ul>306Supporting Psychologically Healthy and Safe Workplaces https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/305/supporting-psychologically-healthy-and-safe-workplacesCOVID-19,GeneralMon, 04 May 2020 19:26:58 GMT<p>While workplace mental health has emerged as a growing concern in recent years, the strain of the current pandemic and the recent tragic events across Nova Scotia that claimed the lives of several Nova Scotians have emphasized the need to cultivate and support psychologically healthy and safe workplaces in our province.</p> <p>A workplace that is&nbsp;<em><span style="padding: 0cm; border: 1pt none windowtext;">psychologically healthy and safe</span></em>&nbsp;will respect and listen to workers, act on their concerns, and provide opportunities for workers to have some control over their work. This often results in fewer work-related injuries and illnesses, less time loss and shorter time off work&nbsp;when injuries and illnesses occur, less absenteeism, and more productive and engaged workers. </p> <p>While some organizations are working to implement a specific&nbsp;<em><span style="padding: 0cm; border: 1pt none windowtext;">Psychological Health and Safety Management System&nbsp;</span></em>based on the&nbsp;<em><span style="padding: 0cm; border: 1pt none windowtext;">National Standard of Canada on Psychological Health and Safety (CSA Z1003)</span></em>, it&rsquo;s not essential to have a separate, formal management system in place to start improving the psychological health and safety for employees in your workplace. </p> <p>If you are already working on improving your safety culture, reducing work-related injuries, supporting the recovery of injured workers with a stay-at-work/return-to-work program, and involving workers in continuous improvement initiatives, you are likely already doing much of what is needed for a psychologically healthy and safe workplace.&nbsp;</p> <p>According to Employment and Social Development Canada, employers can build a supportive work environment that promotes mental well-being to keep their workforce strong and competitive, by:</p> <p>1. Encouraging employee participation and decision-making<br /> 2. Clearly defining employees' duties and responsibilities<br /> 3. Promoting work-life balance<br /> 4. Encouraging and modeling respectful behaviours<br /> 5. Managing workloads<br /> 6. Providing training and learning opportunities<br /> 7. Having conflict resolution practices in place<br /> 8. Recognizing employees' contributions effectively</p> <p><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4;">Taking steps to </span><span style="font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; background-color: #f4f4f4; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/what-we-do/stigma-and-discrimination">reduce stigma</a></span><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4;">, and making resources easily and readily available when they&rsquo;re needed, are also ways that employers can build a supportive work environment.</span></p> <p>For more helpful tools and resources including a Q&amp;A, video, and related stats, visit the <span><a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Prevention-Education/Protecting-Your-Body/Psychologically-Healthy-Workplaces">Psychologically Healthy Workplaces page</a></span> at worksafeforlife.ca</p> <p>For workplace mental health support during the coronavirus pandemic, visit the Canadian Mental Health Association&rsquo;s wellness resource hub at <span><a href="https://caringtogether-cmhans.ca/">https://caringtogether-cmhans.ca/</a></span> </p> <p>Other tools and resources that may be helpful are: </p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li> <p><a href="http://www.ccohs.ca/healthyminds/"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: #7834bc;">Healthy Minds@Work</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: #333333;">, a hub of tools and resources to support workplace parties in their efforts to address psychological health and safety in the workplace.</span></p> </li> <li> <p><span style="color: #333333;">The Mental Health Commission of Canada&rsquo;s&nbsp;</span><span><a href="http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/issues/workplace/national-standard"><span style="color: #7834bc;">National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace</span></a></span><span style="color: #333333;">&nbsp;(the Standard)</span></p> </li> </ul> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li style="color: #333333; background: white;"> <p><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.ca/en/workplace/workplace-programs"><span style="color: #7834bc;">Mental Health First Aid</span></a></span>, developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, aims to improve mental health literacy and provide the skills and knowledge to help people better manage potential or developing mental health problems in themselves, a family member, a friend or a colleague</p> </li> <li style="color: #333333; background: white;"> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMbYmVcase8&amp;feature=emb_title" target="_blank">Hear from</a> long-time supporter of workplace safety and mental health, Linda Corkum, who recognized the need to provide mental health education and training through her role as Executive Director at the&nbsp;Nova Scotia Trucking Safety Association. There, she brought in The Working Mind Program making it the first trucking association in Canada to implement the program.</p> </li> </ul> <br />305Preventing musculoskeletal injurieshttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/304/preventing-musculoskeletal-injuriesCOVID-19,GeneralMon, 04 May 2020 19:23:45 GMT<p>In Nova Scotia, musculoskeletal injuries or MSIs are the most common type of workplace injury, accounting for about two thirds of all injuries reported to the WCB each year. Preventing MSIs begins with identifying the workplace hazards that cause them and adjusting the way the work is designed and carried out. Sometimes a simple change can make a big difference.</p> <p>WCB Nova Scotia ergonomist Tamara MacKinnon spends a lot of her time helping workplaces adjust their work processes to reduce the risk of MSIs. </p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 18pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">As an ergonomist and a registered nurse &nbsp;with a background in emergency medicine, Tamara knows the impact these injuries have on workers, their families, workplaces and the community. She was part of the team that helped the WCB develop a new </span><a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/Documents/Comms-Publication-Guide%20to%20Prevent%20MSI-2018.pdf?ver=2020-02-18-123708-720"><span style="color: #1f3864; font-size: 11pt;">MSI Prevention Guide</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;">. </span></p> <p>The guide offers a six-step process to reduce risk. The first step in is education and awareness. </p> <p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s really important for employers and workers to understand the potential physical impacts of the work they do over time,&rdquo; says Tamara. &ldquo;Once they understand the risks, it&rsquo;s possible to make improvements.&rdquo; </p> <p>The second step is identifying the jobs, tasks, and work locations that pose the most risk, and then assessing and talking to workers about them. </p> <p>Once a good level of understanding is achieved, employers and workers can work together to develop controls, learn how to implement them, and then evaluate them over time to assess their effectiveness.</p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 18pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://mwc/comm/Team%20Documents/worksafeforlife.ca">Worksafeforlife.ca</a> offers </span><a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Protecting-your-Body/Musculoskeletal-Injuries"><span style="color: #1f3864; font-size: 11pt;">lots of tools and resources</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> to help workplaces reduce their risk of MSI injuries. </span></p> <p>In addition to the prevention guide, other resources include:</p> <ul> <li><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4;">MSI tip sheets that offer risk mitigation strategies for 14 different tasks and working conditions</span></li> </ul> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li> <p>Downloadable posters to print or share</p> </li> <li> <p>Videos </p> </li> <li> <p><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Other ergonomics resources, including an </span><a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/portals/worksafeforlife/Media/MSI/Comms-Publications-MSI%20Office%20guide_ABSOLUTE%20FINAL.pdf"><span style="color: #1f3864; font-size: 11pt;">Office Ergonomics Guide</span></a> <span style="font-size: 11pt;">that offers helpful workspace setup advice for the many Nova Scotians working from home during the coronavirus pandemic.</span></p> </li> </ul> <p>&ldquo;Working from home can present unexpected MSI challenges so it&rsquo;s important to try and make appropriate adjustments to your home workstation when necessary,&rdquo; says Tamara. &ldquo;Managing the height of your work surface, obtaining a neutral wrist posture and setting up a comfortable seated position is ideal. Using a makeshift rolled towel to provide lumbar support and a footrest may be helpful to reduce slouching. Remember to keep an arm&rsquo;s length away from your monitor to aim for neutral posture of your neck, and take micro breaks throughout the day. Micro breaks promote movement and circulation which can help reduce feelings of discomfort.&rdquo; </p> <p>For a fun and informative online activity during Safety and Health Week, check out how your workplace can prevent back injuries and become Back Protection Agents, <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Protecting-your-Body/Back-Protection/Become-an-Agent#screen-start">here</a>.</p>304Steps for Life virtual walkshttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/303/steps-for-life-virtual-walksCOVID-19,GeneralMon, 04 May 2020 18:51:06 GMT<p><span style="color: black; background: white;">Steps for Life is traditionally a five-kilometre family walk that aims to educate the community about the devastating effects of workplace tragedy. </span>These<span> annual fundraising walk events will look and feel a little different this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but still offer Nova Scotians an opportunity to step up and do something positive for a worthy cause. </span></p> <p>Instead of the usual in-person walk events, participants can still register and connect with their local group fundraising efforts online. </p> <p>There are two Nova Scotia Steps for Life groups &ndash; one in Halifax and one in Sydney. You can register yourself or your team in either one. As a participant, you can take part by wearing yellow, getting some exercise, and fundraising through your social channels. </p> <p>Find out how you can make a difference for families affected by workplace tragedy, and register, <a href="http://events.threadsoflife.ca/site/TR?fr_id=1186&amp;pg=entry">here</a>.</p>303Preventing slip, trip and fall injurieshttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/302/preventing-slip-trip-and-fall-injuriesCOVID-19,GeneralMon, 04 May 2020 18:37:05 GMT<p><span>Slips, trips and falls are one of the most common causes of workplace injuries in Nova Scotia, accounting for more than 20 per cent of all time loss claims in recent years. </span></p> <p><span>Slip, trip and fall injuries happen all year round in lots of different work environments, including retail, food and beverage, transport, construction and manufacturing. </span></p> <p><span>Recent prevention measures aimed at reducing the risk of COVID-19 may increase the risk of slip and fall injuries, as frequent hand washing protocols and new hand washing stations on work sites could result in more water splashed onto walking surfaces. </span></p> <p><span>As workplaces adjust their safety practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it&rsquo;s important to ensure that all risks continue to be well managed.</span></p> <p><span>The good news is that there&rsquo;s lots workplaces can do to reduce the risk of slip and fall injuries. </span></p> <p><span>Inside the workplace be sure to:</span></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><span>Clean up spills right away, and post a hazard sign</span></li> <li><span>Make sure cords and cables don&rsquo;t cross walking paths</span></li> <li><span>Keep file drawers closed, and keep hallways and stairwells clear</span></li> <li><span>Only carry what you can safely handle</span></li> </ul> <p><span>Outside the workplace make sure to:</span></p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li><span>Maintain three points of contact when entering and exiting vehicles or equipment</span></li> <li><span>Make sure outdoor work areas have adequate lighting</span></li> <li><span>Wear shoes with a non-slip tread</span></li> <li><span>Have a plan to manage ice and snow removal </span></li> </ul> <p><span>You can find a full list of slip, trip, and fall prevention tips<a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/Documents/STF_Tips%20fact%20sheet_Oct17.pdf?ver=2017-12-19-094942-867"><span style="color: windowtext;">, </span>here.</a></span></p> <p><span>The <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/Home/Injury-Prevention/Protecting-your-Body/Slips-Trips-Falls">worksafeforlife.ca Slips, Trips and Falls prevention page</a> also offers a range of helpful tools and resources, including videos, a discussion guide, posters and more. </span></p> <p><span>For other tips and resources on working safely during COVID-19, visit <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/COVID19">worksafeforlife.ca/COVID19</a>.</span></p>302Supporting workplace safety during COVID-19https://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/301/supporting-workplace-safety-during-covid-19COVID-19Wed, 15 Apr 2020 12:21:54 GMT<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="/Portals/WorkSafeForLifeRedesign/Ian%20Tanya.jpg?ver=2020-04-15-091258-637" longdesc="Ian MacDonald and Tanya Newell provide virtual support to the Tri-County Centre for Regional Education during the COVID-19 pandemic. " style="background-color: #f4f4f4; width: 500px; height: 375px; vertical-align: top;" /></p> <p>A big part of how the WCB supports injury prevention in our province is the work our Relationship Managers and Workplace Consultants do in workplaces, helping employers implement strategies to reduce injuries and improve return to work outcomes.</p> <p>That work has changed dramatically in recent weeks, as workplaces have adjusted their operations to meet new COVID-19 public health requirements, including the WCB, which has curtailed in-person visits and transitioned employees to working from home.</p> <p>According to WCB Relationship Manager Ian MacDonald, employer needs for support right now vary from sector to sector. &ldquo;Some employers have dramatically reduced their operations, while others &ndash; especially in essential services sectors - have ramped up to deal with pandemic.&rdquo;</p> <p>He says a few are using the time they have available now to make improvements to their occupational health and safety and return to work systems and processes. &ldquo;In many workplaces, this pandemic has increased the level of focus on health and safety,&rdquo; says Ian.&nbsp;</p> <p>WCB Workplace Consultant Tanya Newell agrees. She says it&rsquo;s important for employers dealing with COVID-19 challenges to stay focused on working safely.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s important that any changes an employer makes to tackle Covid 19 don&rsquo;t undermine other areas of their safety program or create other hazards. She recommends employers continue to take a hazard identification, assessment and control approach for all of their COVID-19 risk mitigation strategies.&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;A good example is the increased need for hand washing in workplaces now,&rdquo; says Tanya. &ldquo;The frequency and position of sinks could mean there&rsquo;s more water on the floor, which could be creating a slip and fall hazard that didn&rsquo;t exist before. A rigorous hazard identification approach will help ensure new practices don&rsquo;t create more risks.&rdquo;<span style="background-color: #f4f4f4;"><br /> </span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4;">Both Tanya and Ian, who before the pandemic spent most of their time working with employers and workers in the workplace, are now providing support using online meeting technologies like Skype, Zoom, and GoTo Meeting.&nbsp;</span></p> <p>They say that while people always value face-to-face interaction, working online has some big advantages too. &ldquo;I can have a meeting with an employer in Yarmouth, and as soon as I&rsquo;m done I can hop into another meeting with a workplace in Amherst, and after that attend another meeting in HRM,&rdquo; says Ian. &ldquo;The ability to eliminate travel time while still having an interaction more personal than a phone call is huge.&rdquo;&nbsp;<br /> <br /> While Tanya agrees with Ian on the benefits, she says working online makes it more challenging to gain an in-depth understanding of the work and the hazards within a particular workplace. She also misses the opportunities being on site provides to connect with front-line staff.</p> <p>In terms of prevention advice for workplaces during the pandemic, Ian and Tanya suggest:<br /> &bull; Listening to your people and letting them know you&rsquo;re there to support them<br /> &bull; Staying focused on all the other aspects of health, safety, and return to work &ndash; even though the pandemic is top of mind, all of the usual hazards and issues are still there<br /> &bull; If you have staff working from home &ndash; making sure you reach out to them regularly.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> &bull; Engaging and empowering your JOHSCs and safety reps to help you work through the employee safety challenges Covid 19 presents.<br /> &bull; Reaching to the WCB, other safety resources, and your peer workplaces to share learnings around employee health and safety.<br /> &bull; This is also a great time to have people working from home tackle a safety project, or do safety research to compile best practices that can be put in place down the road when life returns to normal.<br /> <br /> Employers interested in getting direct support for their prevention and return to work programs from the WCB team can do that in a couple of ways: large workplaces can start by contacting their Relationship Manager. Small workplaces who have a claim can ask their case worker. All employers and workers can visit <a href="http://www.worksafeforlife.ca/COVID19">worksafeforlife.ca</a> anytime, for a full range of prevention tools and resources, including new resources to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.<br /> <br /> </p>301Potholes and Frost Heaves on Nova Scotia Roadshttps://www.worksafeforlife.ca/safetymattersblog/PostId/290/potholes-and-frost-heaves-on-nova-scotia-roadsGeneralThu, 28 Mar 2019 14:40:39 GMT<br /> <em>Guest Post from Art Brown, Workplace Consultant and JOHS Committee Co-Chair, WCB Nova Scotia</em> <div><em><br /> </em> <p>Over the past few weeks we have all heard from someone we know or on the news about the dangers of potholes &ndash; maybe not so much about frost heaves.&nbsp; Both can be equally dangerous and cause damage to your car or, worse, cause an accident. During Nova Scotia&rsquo;s extended spring weather, it&rsquo;s important to be aware of these hazards and know how to protect yourself and your vehicle.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>What causes potholes?&nbsp;</strong><br /> Nova Scotia&rsquo;s frequent cold to warm days with melting snow and rain play a big role in causing potholes. The more this happens, the more potholes we get.&nbsp; This year had a high number of these cycles; therefore, there seems to be more potholes than usual.&nbsp; When water gets down into cracks in the pavement or concrete, it freezes and expands. When it is in a crack or fissure in the roadway, it will cause that crack or fissure to grow. Add traffic, and the problem worsens when chunks of pavement are dislodged.&nbsp; For every warm wet day with a cold night, there are more and more chunks of pavement coming loose.&nbsp; Over a short period of time, large holes can appear that will swallow the wheel of a car.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>What causes frost heaves?&nbsp;</strong><br /> When water is trapped beneath the pavement and freezes, it can result in significant heaving to the pavement.&nbsp; Sometimes it feels like a series of small speed bumps, but at times can be big enough for your car&rsquo;s suspension to bottom out.&nbsp; This can result in suspension damage.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>What can you do?&nbsp;</strong><br /> Here are some tips to help make your trip safer:<br /> <br /> 1. Slow down in areas where you know there are frost heaves and potholes. Plan for the extra few minutes of travel time.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> <br /> 2. Scan the road ahead and drive defensively:&nbsp;<br /> &bull; Keep scanning the roadway ahead of the vehicle in front of you. Do not stay fixated on the lane immediately ahead.<br /> &bull; Look for vehicles moving to the right or left in their lane, and consider whether they may be responding to road conditions.<br /> &bull; Don&rsquo;t tailgate.&nbsp; Stay back far enough from the vehicle in front of you so you have time to react.&nbsp; A safe following distance is at least two seconds behind the vehicle in front of you during ideal conditions, and longer during adverse weather or hazardous conditions.<br /> &bull; Look for standing water on the road.&nbsp; It may have accumulated in a pothole, and you will not be able to see how deep it is.&nbsp;<br /> &bull; Expect every expansion joint on an overpass to have a pothole.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> <br /> 3. Pay attention to your driving:&nbsp;<br /> &bull; Stay off the phone &ndash; even if it is hands free. In Ontario, distracted driving is now causing more driving-related deaths than drinking and driving (Ontario Provincial Police).<br /> &bull; Do not adjust the radio.&nbsp; Pick your station and volume before you start your trip.<br /> &bull; Do not try to steal glances of the video you are playing for the kids.<br /> &bull; No personal grooming while driving.&nbsp; Do it before you go or when you get there.<br /> <br /> 4. Look for standing water in the ditch or places along the road where the ditch is very shallow.&nbsp; There will likely be frost heaves.<br /> <br /> 5. Watch the back of the transport trucks.&nbsp; &nbsp;If they sway, then they are likely bouncing over potholes or frost heaves.&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;<br /> 6. Take a defensive driving course that teaches you how to scan the road for danger.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;Drive safe and drive to arrive.&nbsp; We have several more weeks of &ldquo;pothole season&rdquo; so please be safe.<br /> <br /> </p> <br /> </div>290