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REGINA LEADER-POST

20 years: naosh week 2017 NAOSH Week focuses on making safety a habit

by Jonathan hamelin

During the 20th annual North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week from May 7-13, organizers are reminding people in the workplace to “Make Safety a Habit for Your Career.”

The goal of NAOSH Week is to focus employers, employees, partners and the public on the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace, at home and in the community.

“One of the keys to workplace safety is participation and making sure everybody’s getting on board,” said Andrea Crittenden, NAOSH Week coordinator for the Northern Light Chapter of The Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, which serves the northern half of the province of Saskatchewan.

“Bottom line: it’s about going home at the end of the day to your loved ones. You might get eye rolls when you say that, but genuinely that’s what it’s about. Workers shouldn’t have to sacrifice their lives to an employer just to get the job done.”

There are a number of special events planned in Regina and Saskatoon during NAOSH Week.

The week kicks off with Steps for Life walks in Regina and Saskatoon on May 7. The Regina event starts at

the Totem Pole in Lakeshore Park and gets underway at 11 a.m. In Saskatoon, the walk kicks off at the Diefenbaker Canada Centre at 1 p.m. The walk is the flagship fundraiser of the Association for Workplace Tragedy Family Support – known as Threads of Life – which supports the healing journey of families who have suffered from a workplace fatality, traumatic life-altering injury, or occupational disease. If you’re interested in getting involved or would like more information, email steps@threadsoflife.ca.

“The person who suffers a workplace injury or fatality is not the only one who’s affected,” Crittenden said. “There are also the family members who are left behind or left with the consequences of the situation that occurs. They are just as affected as well, because if their loved one is not coming home at the end of the day, that leaves a big void in their lives.”

Luncheons in support of NAOSH Week are being held on May 8 in Regina (Conexus Arts Centre, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and May 9 in Saskatoon (Prairieland Park – Terrace, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.). The events feature guest speaker Dan Comiskey, whose keynote will be heavily weighted in safety habits and habit change.

Comiskey, who spent 12 years playing in the CFL and

NAOSH Week 2017 kicks off with Steps for Life walks in Regina and Saskatoon on Sunday, May 7. The Regina event starts at 11 a.m. at the Totem Pole in Lakeshore Park. In Saskatoon, the walk kicks off at the Diefenbaker Canada Centre at 1 p.m. The walk is in support of families who have suffered from a workplace fatality, serious injury or occupational disease. SuppliE d p H O tO

earned two Grey Cup rings, is a strong advocate of workplace safety. During his football career, Comiskey’s stepbrother passed in an industrial incident. Less than one year from Comiskey’s retirement, his father-in-law suffered a permanent brain injury in the workplace. Comiskey himself has suffered multiple concussions, a torn tricep, a torn calf and a broken leg during his time in football.

“When I looked at how workplaces were operating, I realized there are a lot of errors in how we’re approaching safety,” Comiskey said. “I made the leap and started developing leadership training

programs near the end of my CFL career.”

Comiskey has spent the past six years working as a behavioural safety specialist in the heavy oil industry in Northern Alberta. Through his company, Safety Lead (www.safetylead.net), he offers keynote presentations, training, coaching and video creation.

“One of the most important things regarding workplace safety is ensuring everyone is personally accountable,” Comiskey said. “Whether it means wearing safety goggles, following lockout-tagout procedures, or protecting yourself from electricity, every-

thing comes down to people buying in. You have to walk the walk, and when you see somebody not following safety practices you have to intervene and make a difference.”

He added that “if the safety leader is not wearing safety goggles, why would the employee? If the safety leader notices an employee not wearing safety goggles and doesn’t say anything, the employee will assume they don’t care. There are little choices people make every day in the workplace and these decisions can affect your teammates and your family.”

On May 10, Grade 9 students at Mount Royal Colle-

Every step counts

by Joseph Wilson

Cody Davis was just 22 when a workplace accident took his life in 2009.

It was just one moment of inattention and a lapse in communication between workmates that cost him everything. But a moment was all it took.

His poignant obituary described Davis as a ‘big teddy bear who collected friends like other people collected stamps.’

Justin Scott was one of the friends that Davis collected along his journey in life and the news of his death still haunts the owner of Outline Construction Ltd. In Davis’ honour, he participates in the Steps for Life 5K Walk.

The money raised in the walk supports programs and services offered by Threads of Life to support families affected by life-altering workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths.

“We’ve been a part of it for four or five years now,” says Scott.

He said Threads of Life helped Davis’ mom after his accident.

“I think the biggest thing was they provided counselling and they also provided connections to other families who had gone through similar events, so they could relate to each other,” he said.

Those kinds of connections are a lifeline to the family members left behind.

Scott is still in contact with his friend’s mother, getting together a couple times each year, including at the Steps for Life walk.

The event serves not only as a fund-raiser, but also helps educate the public and encourages improvements in workplace safety.

For Scott, the owner of his own construction company based in Warman, losing a friend has permanently im-

printed a respect for the potential dangers of the workplace. This is especially true in construction, an industry with plenty of opportunities for workplace accidents if supervisors and workers are not wary.

“I think the biggest thing we do differently is that we were a new start-up company in the residential construction sector, and we had a safety program and a safety mentality right from Day 1. That really stands apart when we’re on-site.”

Scott is responsible for eight to 14 employees, depending on the season and workload. He feels the weight of responsibility to make sure each of them returns home safe each night and makes safety a part every job.

“We have our safety program where we use the PreJob Safety Inspection (PSI) protocol as well as safety meetings. We run the same kind of

Safety on the worksite is a prime focus for Outline Construction Ltd. owner Justin Scott. Here Scott (at left) discusses safety with workers Shawn Whiting (centre) and Travis Mckenzie (right) during a job co-ordination meeting. pHOt O cO urt ESy Ju St iN ScO t t

safety system that you would see on an industrial site, just a little more simplified to suit the tasks we are doing.”

The PSI is a printed booklet that helps identify the hazards involved with the individual tasks on the worksite each day, and what kind of safety measures are involved at each stage of a project. Weekly team safety meetings are used to talk about more general risks like heat stress or other environmental risks.

“It helps increase the level of communication on the crew, which helps everybody strive toward the common goal of no incidents,” says Scott.

“We didn’t go into the business because we wanted to hurt people.”

The Workers Compensation Board said Saskatchewan suffered 31 workplace fatalities in 2016, in a report last month.

“Even one injury or death is too many,” said Peter Federko,

giate in Saskatoon will take part in the Amazing Safety Quest, an educational and interactive event established by the Saskatchewan Safety Council. It aims to help create a culture of safety among youth in the province by sharing injury prevention strategies and informing young workers of the extreme importance of workplace safety.

The week wraps up with a barbeque on May 12 at the CNH Place-Saskatoon Training Centre in Saskatoon from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

“This is a great event for people who have an interest or are concerned about safety in the workplace,” Crittenden said. “There will be some great displays from associations and vendors that showcase personal protective equipment and other tools of the trade. Prizes will be awarded and of course we’ll also serve up some really good burgers.”

Crittenden, who has been involved with NAOSH Week for six years, said the event continues to build momentum.

“As more people find out about it and more importance gets placed on occupational health and safety, more people start to participate,” she said. “It opens up people’s eyes.”

For more information on NAOSH Week, visit http:// naosh.org.

WCB CEO, in a release. “We mourn every lost life as one too many. We need to be diligent every day as workers, as employers and as citizens to keep ourselves and each other safe.”

The message may be getting through. Saskatchewan’s total injury rate in 2016 dropped 11.9 per cent from 2015. Unfortunately, Saskatchewan remains the third highest in workplace injuries among the provinces.

The Saskatoon Steps for Life 5K Walk is set for Sunday, May 7 starting at the Diefenbaker Centre on the University of Saskatchewan campus. Registration is at noon, with the walk beginning at 1 p.m. In Regina, the walk begins at 11 a.m., departing from the Totem Pole in Lakeshore Park.

There is an easy online registration process for individuals or teams at stepsforlife.ca, with tools available to collect online donations.

There are also opportunities to take part as corporate challenge team or to volunteer at the event.

This secTion was creaTed by conTenT works, PosTmedia’s commercial conTenT sTudio.

Celebrate Safety during NAOSH WEEK!

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REGINA LEADER-POST

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make safety a habit

Saskatchewan has become a safer place to work over the past 20 years

by Jonathan hamelin

It has been 20 years since the launch of North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, a fact that is surprising even to some workplace safety professionals.

“I was around when the first one happened. It’s a great example of how things have changed,” said Peter Federko, CEO of the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB). “I do recall attending the lunches every year, but today the passion and engagement around NAOSH Week has multiplied greatly. It’s about being engaged by others about how to make safety a priority in the workplace.”

In Saskatchewan, workplaces have clearly been taking the message of NAOSH Week and Mission: Zero to heart and looking at ways to create a culture of safety. According to WCB statistics, Saskatchewan’s 2016 total workplace injury rate was 5.55 per cent, an 11.9 per cent drop from 2015.

The time loss injury rate decreased from 2.07 per cent to 1.86 per cent. Time loss claims fell by 604 claims to 7,813, while total claims fell 2,220 from 2015, an 8.69 percent decrease.

“A couple of reasons for the improvements have been the ability to highlight the significance of the problem and provide education to break

the myth that these are accidents that would happen anyway and there’s nothing that can be done to prevent them,” Federko said. “We believe every injury is preventable.”

A major step in curving the workplace injury trend happened in 2002 with the launch of WorkSafe Saskatchewan, a partnership between the WCB and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety.

It was around this time that the time loss injury rate had peaked at 4.95 per cent.

In 2008, WorkSafe Saskatchewan launched Mission: Zero, developed as a call to action and a goal for employers and companies to achieve zero workplace injuries, with a symbol of a stop-sign red button. Over 350 companies and organizations in Saskatchewan now abide by Mission: Zero.

“When we launched Mission: Zero, I remember people saying, ‘You’re crazy to think you can eliminate all injuries’, but many workplaces in the province have thought contrary,” Federko said. “In 2016, 88 per cent of workplaces went injury free.”

In 2010, WorkSafe created the Health and Safety Leadership Charter, a document business and community leaders were asked to sign and show their commitment to seven principles of health and safety.

Today there are over 600 charter signatories.

30+ years of

Federko notes that in addition to the efforts of WorkSafe, the companies and individuals who have bought into the messages deserve a lot of credit.

“One of our pillars in the WorkSafe strategy has been to achieve our goals through partnerships and relationships,” he said. “Through the development of those relationships and partnerships, we’re able to garner support and passion. The community and business leaders deserve a lot of credit; through their advocacy and leadership they have really inspired cultural change within their workplaces.”

One of the ways in which the business community has stepped up to the plate has been hiring full-time safety officials to implement and/or ensure safe practices are being followed. Steve Wallace, a senior program consultant with the Heavy Construction Safety Association of Saskatchewan, has seen a dramatic shift.

“Twenty years ago there were maybe one or two companies in the heavy construction industry that had safety employees. Now, we probably have 100 or 200 companies,” he said. “In any work culture there’s got to be recognition.

Just the fact that these safety employees are there and companies are recognizing that they need to look after safety is positive for the culture.

“Whether the employees are part-time or full-time, they

According to Peter Federko, CEO of the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB), the total workplace injury rate in our province was 5.5 per cent in 2016, a drop of 11.9 per cent from the previous year. Fil E pH O tO

have a valuable role to play. By hiring these employees, companies are helping to ensure that fewer injuries will happen by having a plan in place to eliminate or mitigate the risks.”

While Saskatchewan has come a long way when it comes to improving workplace safety, the province

Over 600 community and business leaders in Saskatchewan have signed the Health and Safety Leadership Charter. FilE p HOtO

has still not reached Mission: Zero. With 12 per cent of companies not having achieved the goal, Federko said the focus is on targeting those workplaces.

“We’re targeting workplaces that would benefit the most from our assistance, looking at claim volumes, time lost rates and other indicators to

see which ones have set themselves apart from the rest of their industry,” Federko said.

“We personally go and visit those workplaces and help them establish a safety management system and follow up with audits to see if they remain committed to the plan.”

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Registered nurses are the

frontline off safe f patient ti t care.

—Dr. Anish Mody

To care for your patients, you need to make sure you are caring for yourself. Workplace incidents are preventable and predicatable. Speak to your coworkers and your Occupation Health and Safety Committee.

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