JHSC 3-day Training
March 11-13 – Dalhousie (F), Edmundston (F), Fredericton (E), Moncton (E), Saint John (E), St. Stephen (E)
April 15-17 – Miramichi (E), Moncton (F), Saint John (E), Sussex (E)
April 22-24 – Florenceville (E), Moncton (E), St. Stephen (E), Tracadie (F)
WHMIS (1/2 day)
April 8 – Bathurst (E), Moncton (E), Saint John (E), St. Stephen (E), Woodstock (E)
April 9 – Caraquet (F), Fredericton (E)
April 10 – Edmundston (F), Moncton (F), Sussex (E)
E indicates workshops given in English
F indicates workshops given in French
Click here or call 1 800 222-9775 for more information.
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This spring think fall...protection Already this year, falls have cost two New Brunswick workers their lives. And, in 2007, John Mahar, a highly respected and long-serving member of the WHSCC board of directors died as a result of head injuries sustained from a fall at work. Another 20 workers suffered serious injuries as a result of falls in 2007.
On February 14, the WHSCC issued a Stop Work Order at a manufacturing facility in Saint John, when an officer found employees working more than 3 metres above the nearest safe level with no fall protection. This Stop Work Order was one of six already issued this year.
“It’s disturbing that we continue to see so many employers and workers continuing to work without fall protection. They are gambling with lives, and the odds are never in their favour,” said Dave Greason, the WHSCC’s vice-president of WorkSafe Services. “A fall from even low heights can kill or seriously injure,” he said.
Greason urges employers and their workers to ensure the use of a guardrail, travel restraint or fall-arrest when working from heights.
“We (the WHSCC) have stepped up inspections to enforce compliance of fall protection and other legislative requirements under the Occupational Heath and Safety Act,” Greason said. “Individuals and organizations found failing to comply may face suspension of work, restricted use of equipment, fines and demerits. But, more importantly, they may pay the ultimate price, as tragically two New Brunswickers have already done this year. Employers and, just as importantly, supervisors of anyone working at heights, are responsible for the safety of their workers, and any failure to ensure that their workers are using appropriate safety practices is a violation of the law”.
For more information on fall protection, please visit our website at www.whscc.nb.ca or call
1 800 222-9775.
To view a list of WHSCC publications on fall protection, click here.
WHSCC campaign targets MSls
Musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) account for almost 36% of the lost-time claims submitted to the WHSCC, with back and shoulder injuries representing 70% of these.
The majority of MSIs are caused by improper manual handling techniques, specifically lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling, says Todd Hickey, ergonomics consultant wit the WHSCC. To help reduce MSIs, the WHSCC has launched a campaign aimed at educating employers and workers on proper manual handling techniques.
The first phase of the campaign began with a workshop at the 27th Annual WHSCC Health and Safety Conference in October. The second phase involves a mail-out in the spring to targeted SIC (Standard Industry Classification) codes, where manual handling has been identified as a prevalent job task. A second mail out is scheduled for the latter part of 2008.
“Our goal is to promote understanding and control of manual material handing risks to employers and their workers,” Hickey said. “We’re helping them identify high-risk tasks and safe manual handling procedures, and encouraging them to provide appropriate training and equipment. By eliminating, or significantly reducing MSIs at their workplace, they can improve not only employee health and morale, but their bottom line,” he said.
Several new publications were developed as additional resources, including the following:
Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Injuries pamphlet
There Are Limits to What a Person Can Lift poster
Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention Roles fact sheet
Manual Handling Maximum Recommended Limits pocket card
For more information on proper manual handling techniques and how to reduce MSIs at your workplace, call the WHSCC at 1 800 222-9775, or the regional office nearest you, at:
Saint John – 632-2200
Dieppe – 867-0525
Bathurst – 547-7300
Grand Falls – 475-2550
In the Courts
On March 7, Breau Construction pleaded guilty to two charges under the OHS Act for failing to provide adequate training to employees on a fall-arrest system and for failing to ensure the use of an individual fall-arrest system. They were fined $3,000.
MG Fisheries of Grand Manan pleaded guilty on February 21 to a charge under the OHS Act for failing to report an accident. They were fined $2,000, plus a $400 victim surcharge.
Ask Us
Q: What is NAOSH Week and when is it?
John Smith*
Saint John, NB
*Name has been changed for privacy purposes.
A: North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week focuses the attention of employers, employees, the general public and all partners in occupational health and safety on the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace, at home, and in the community.
NAOSH Week evolved from the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering’s (CSSE) Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Week, which had been observed from 1986-1996. When labour representatives from Canada, the United Sates and Mexico discussed workplace safety during the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) talks in the mid 90s, the idea for a tripartite celebration was born. The CSSE was approached to support and expand their COHS week across North America, and the plan for NAOSH Week was implemented between 1997-2000.
Since then, the CSSE has sponsored NAOSH Week with the support of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, and was successful in bringing its American counterpart, the ASSE, on board.
This year NAOSH Week is May 4-10, with the theme Safety & Health: “Start Today! Live It Every Day!” The NAOSH Committee in New Brunswick (consisting of members of CSSE, HRDSC and WHSCC) is organizing breakfasts for members of joint health and safety committees across the province. These are only some of the events planned to promote workplace health and safety. The committee encourages all employers and workers to plan their own NAOSH week event at their workplaces.
For more information on NAOSH Week, please visit: www.naosh.ca.
If you have a question for Ask us! please forward to stearsb@whscc.nb.ca.
Recent Accident Reports
Date of Accident: |
February 26, 2008 |
Injury Type: |
All ribs on right side broken |
Hospitalized: |
Yes |
Industry: |
Construction / Apprentice |
Location: |
Southwest |
Notes: |
Worker was in a training program to build homes. Rafters that were being erected on walls let go, pushing the gable end off the wall onto the ground, and striking the worker. |
More accident reports...
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Did you know? In 2007, the number of workplace accidents in New Brunswick decreased by 3.9% to an estimated 3.43 accidents per 100 full-time employees (2006—3.57).
Interesting Link Driver fatigue can often prove fatal. In fact, 17.9% of all fatal crashes in Canada are fatigue-related, claiming the lives of 400 Canadians every year. The Highway Safety Roundtable recently released a report based on a symposium held in Toronto in May 2007, called “Working Together to Understand Driver Fatigue.” To read this interesting report and find out how you can avoid becoming one of these tragic statistics, click here.
March is... Kidney Health Month Nutrition Month Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Help Fight Liver Disease Month
Events March 14 The Breadth of Industrial Hygiene Burnaby, BC
March 16-18 2008 Farm Safety Association Annual Conference and General Meeting Niagara Falls, ON
March 25-27 Healthy Workplaces Conference Niagara-on-the Lake, ON
March 26-27 Workplace Health 2008: The Battle for Mental Well-being Ottawa, ON
March 26-28 Nova Scotia Safety Council 26th Annual Health and Safety Conference Halifax, NS
April 3-4 NB Safety Council Symposium on Safety 2008: Best Practices in Safety Management Fredericton, NB
April 21-23 IAPA Conference & Trade Show: Health & Safety Canada 2008 Toronto, ON
April 25 Safety Matters @ Work: Workplace Health and Safety Conference 2008 Charlottetown, PE
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