Conference Spotlight
Our conference is just a little more than a month away so avoid disappointment and get into the workshops you want to – register today for WorkSafeNB’s 32nd Annual Health and Safety Conference, September 26-28, at the Saint John Trade & Convention Centre. more
Don’t miss your chance to hear Luis Sanchez’s presentation on how making safety a workplace value can lead large-scale cultural change. With a success record that spans the globe in a wide variety of industries, Sanchez’s unique approach to implementing training interventions has reached many individuals, from front line workers to high-ranking executives. And while Sanchez has helped reshape the safety cultures of several global clients, including various construction and petroleum giants, his influence has also touched much closer to home. He served as the principal consultant in bringing the Zero Harm: Our Commitment campaign to Xstrata Zinc’s Brunswick Mine in the northeast region. Brunswick Mine won the John T. Ryan National Safety Trophy for being the safest metal mine in the country in 2011, a year that saw its lowest lost-time and incident frequency levels since it began operations in 1964.
A second plenary session featuring veteran broadcast-journalist Shelagh Rogers will explore her private battle with depression that led to a long-term leave from her CBC radio show, Sounds like Canada.
An additional 32 workshops are available, including:
Office Ergonomics – While hazards in heavy equipment industries are obvious, the office work environment has its risks as well. This workshop explores common issues identified through ergonomic evaluations and offers simple solutions and preventative measures with respect to equipment adjustment.
Why Don't People Lock Out? – Failing to lock out has led to many serious workplace injuries and even deaths. Participants will learn how to identify hazards associated with energized equipment, highlighting mistakes workers commonly make.
Driving: Your Greatest Risk – The stats don’t lie. Operating a motor vehicle is an individual’s greatest risk for serious injury or death in and out of the workplace. This awareness and information workshop teaches participants to assess their own driving ability and make changes to their driving behaviour to lessen the exposure.
The Aging Golden Worker: What Does Age Have to do With it? – This session will discuss and describe the generations of the workforce, myths and realities of the age friendly workplace, chronic diseases of the aging, the pain of aging, and steps to longevity.
Dos and Don'ts of Ladders – Topics include inspection before use, proper set-up of ladders, and how to work safely while on the ladder. Hands-on examples will be used to illustrate concepts.
For more on WorkSafeNB’s 32nd Annual Health and Safety Conference, or to register, click here.
Buckle up and stay alive!
In June this year, a 19-year-old man was killed when he was ejected from the forklift he was operating and it fell on top of him, the result of a collision with another forklift. Since 2005, three other workers lost their lives in similar incidents - they were ejected from their vehicles and the vehicles rolled on top of them. Many others suffered serious injury. None were wearing seatbelts.
These tragic deaths and injuries could have been avoided with the simple click of a buckle. WorkSafeNB would like to remind powered mobile equipment operators to buckle up, as you’re not the only one along for the ride. Because a workplace injury affects more than the worker – it impacts the family, co‑workers, friends and employers. More
Contractor’s Electrical Safety Kit garners international communications award
In 2011, WorkSafeNB partnered with NB Power on a campaign to promote electrical safety, with a focus on the construction industry. The campaign resulted not only in a win for New Brunswickers by helping reduce the number and severity of electricity-related injuries, but for the campaign itself. The Contractor’s Electrical Safety Kit, the main component of the campaign, captured second place in the Open Category of the American Association of State Compensation Insurance Funds (AASCIF) Communications Awards.
The AASCIF Communications Awards are presented annually to member funds and boards from across Canada and the United Sates that have addressed communications issues with professional skill, creativity, and resourcefulness. To ensure objectivity, they are judged by independent communications experts. More
2011 Stakeholder Report now online
WorkSafeNB’s 2011 Report to Stakeholders is now available online. The report presents the stories behind the numbers as WorkSafeNB worked toward meeting its strategic goals of safety, balance, return to work, service and staff satisfaction and engagement.
Highlights include the lowest injury frequency rates ever, a decrease in claim duration, an $0.08 drop in assessment rates, and an improved funded position of 116.9%. The year also saw a high level of staff satisfaction and engagement, with 93% of staff indicating they are committed to their work and believe it is valuable, makes a difference and contributed to the organization’s goals. Staff turnover was at its lowest rate since 2005.
For more results, and to view the 2011 Report to Stakeholders, click here
In the Courts
SWP Industries, of St. Stephen, pleaded guilty April 16, 2012 to charges under the OHS Act for failing to provide adequate safeguards, as the result of a workplace accident on December 26, 2010.
The accident resulted in a worker losing a finger and 17 months of work. The employee was operating a moulder machine and became distracted as he reached in to alter a feed wheel. As a result, his hand became caught in the feed wheel, and he had to have his middle finger amputated. (The moulder was an older model and did not have the proper safeguards.)
The company was fined $7,500, plus a victim surcharge on July 13, 2012.
Ask Us
Q: Do I really need a second employee present to hold a ladder at the bottom until the top is secured? I often work alone, which would make this impossible. Any guidance is appreciated.
Jean LeBlanc*
ABC Company Limited*
Caraquet*, N.B.
*Names have been changed for privacy purposes
A: 125(2) An employee who uses a portable ladder shall ensure that More
New subscriber winner announced
Every quarter, the names of new subscribers to E-News are put into a prize draw. This quarter’s winner is David Speight of Saint John, who works with IBEW Local 502. David received a super soft WorkSafeNB fleece blanket.
Thanks to all new and current subscribers for reading E-News. And please remember, if you have an idea for a story or a question for Ask Us, contact editor@ws-ts.nb.ca.
About WorkSafeNB
WorkSafeNB E-News is a monthly publication designed to bridge the gap between WorkSafeNB's website and Contact, our print-edition newsletter, which is published twice a year.
WorkSafeNB E-News provides you with timely access to the kind of health and safety news you need to protect your workers, your co-workers and yourself.
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DID YOU KNOW ?
WorkSafeNB met its safety targets for 2011, recording the lowest injury frequency rates ever. The injury frequency rate dropped to 3.12 full-time equivalents. This drop was due, in part, to a focus on reducing injuries in nursing home facilities – an industry that saw a decrease in injury frequency of 13.5%.
NEW PUBLICATION
Hazard Alert
Tandem Lift Weight Limits Cannot be Ignored
JHSC WORKSHOPS
September 11-13, 2012
Fredericton (E)*
September 18-20, 2012
Saint John (E)*, Dieppe (E), Dalhousie (E)
October 2-4, 2012
Rothesay (E)
October 2-4, 2012
Dieppe (F), Saint-Basile (F)
October 9-11, 2012
Fredericton (E)*, Saint John (E)
October 16-18, 2012
Dieppe (E), Fredericton (E), Grand Falls (F), Miramichi* (E), Saint John (E)
October 23-25, 2012
Dieppe (E), Florenceville (E)
LOCKOUT WORKSHOPS
August 29, 2012
Miramichi (E)
December 5, 2012
Campbellton (F)
View or register for upcoming workshops
E indicates workshops given in English
F indicates workshops given in French
* indicates workshop is currently full
EVENTS
September 9-12, 2012
Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE) 2012 Professional Development Conference Niagara Falls, Ont.
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