From the Editor

CONNECT AND SUPPORT TO IMPROVE SAFETY ON JOB SITES

The first week of May is Construction Safety Week, and it’s a good time to reflect on the ways in which the construction sector can better provide safety on the job for workers of all kinds.

Heavy construction is a dangerous industry in many ways. Job sites are filled with moving equipment, materials, excavations, and all manner of potential hazards. It’s an industry in which developing a safety culture among workers is an important part of protecting employees from potential harm.

Across Canada, the challenge of safety in the workforce continues to be a difficult one. A team at the University of Regina recently released a report looking at trends in work-related injuries and fatalities from 2015 to 2019 – the most recent data available – in Canadian workplaces as a whole, and found that in several categories of work-related claims some regions continue to tick upwards.

For example, when looking at injury-related fatalities, several provinces saw the number of fatalities per 100,000 employees rise in 2019 compared to the 2015 to 2018 rate; Newfoundland & Labrador jumped from 2.1 fatalities per 100,000 employees up to 4.5, an increase of 116 percent, while New Brunswick ticked up 43 percent to 4.3, and Alberta saw a rise of 9 percent to 4.4. Over the five-year time frame, Saskatchewan has the highest rate of fatalities per 100,000, at 4.6, followed by Alberta at 3.9, and New Brunswick at 3.5.

At the same time, there have been successes. Of jurisdictions with more than 100,000 full-time employees, Manitoba saw the greatest decline in fatality rates, dropping 40 percent to 0.8 per 100,000, followed by Nova Scotia with a 26 percent decline, Quebec down 19 percent, and B.C. with a 17 percent drop. Manitoba dropped 9 percent in terms of lost-time injuries, followed by Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia at 5 percent.

So, the statistics suggest that there has been some movement in terms of workplace safety as a whole. However, there is always more to be done, and much of that revolves around developing a strong safety culture in the workplace. This year’s theme for Construction Safety Week is “Connected. Supported. Safe.” Connecting on the job site to share knowledge and build awareness is key to protecting all workers, and employers should encourage that through establishment

Statistics suggest that there has been some movement in terms of workplace safety as a whole. However, there is always more to be done, and much of that revolves around developing a strong safety culture in the workplace.

of health and safety regimes that ensure employees have the resources to be safe in their work.

Being supportive of one another in physical safety is important and should also extend to mental health as well; Construction Safety Week organizers are encouraging employers and workers alike to be supportive of their colleagues no matter what the challenges they might be facing. Reducing the stigma surrounding mental health discussions can go a long way towards improving overall safety for workers on construction sites.

It’s important to remember that safety culture is a yearround goal. Safety Week is a reminder that everyone on a job site is important, everyone deserves to go home at the end of the day, and everyone has a role in developing a robust culture of safety at work.

Lee Toop

Editor

ltoop@baumpub.com heavyequipmentguide.ca