NSGEU's Bully-Free Workplaces Program Featured on CBC-Radio's Mainstreet

The CBC-Radio program Mainstreet recently invited NSGEU President Joan Jessome and Bully-Free Workplaces Facilitator Kerry Johnson on the show to talk about the program and its early success. To hear that interview, check the "Featured Audio" box down the righthand side of Mainstreet's website.

Department of Labour Launches New Web Service That Allows You To Easily Find OH&S Information

On May 2, the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Educations went live with its new which promises to make finding specific information about health and safety laws and regulations easier for all Nova Scotians.

Easily searchable by category or keywords, the Knowledge Base provides an up-to-date and relevant collection of health and safety information for employees, employers, JOHS Committee members and Health and Safety Representatives.

 

Nova Scotians Gather At Province House
To Remember 23 Workers Killed On The Job Last Year

NSGEU Second Vice President Don Goss lays a wreath at Province House to commemorate the Day of Mourning For Workers Killed Or Injured on the Job.

Annette Travis looked out at the large crowd of workers and politicans and struggled to hold back her tears. On September 25 last year, her father was killed after falling from an unsafe scaffold, and she wanted to honour his memory during the ceremony at Province House to commemorate The Day of Mourning For Workers Killed Or Injured On The Job.

"When I woke up that morning, I didn't know that I would never get to see him again," said Annette. "I didn't know that I'd never have a chance to say goodbye to him." Later, after telling her children that their only grandfather was gone forever, Annette watched her daughter place a picture of Mickey on her bedside table. "I closed the door, but I could hear her whispering at that picture: 'I love you grandpa. I miss you. I hate ladders."

Annette's terrible story of loss and grief is just one of many from last year: her father was just one of 23 Nova Scotians who lost their lives at work. In part, Annette hopes her story will challenge politicians and workers to truly make workplace safety a priority. "The next time you see something unsafe at work, I want you to remember Mickey," she said.

Statistics still paint a grim picture on workplace safety

April 28 is the National Day of Mourning For Workers Killed or Injured On The Job, and in Nova Scotia, there are many to mourn. In 2010, 23 people lost their lives at work, a terrible toll.

Perhaps even more terrible is the general feeling of helplessness that pervades Nova Scotia workplaces when it comes to safety. According to a recent poll by the Workers Compensation Board, almost half of Nova Scotians (43 per cent) believe that workplace injuries are an inevitable part of life. Here is what this fatalism has wrought:

• 28,089 Nova Scotians were injured on the job in 2009
• 7,206 people were injured seriously enough to miss time from work in 2009
• Over the past five years, close to 120 people have died because of a workplace injury.

We can bring these numbers down. We can spare ourselves all the pain and grief that these numbers represent. But we must first, each and every one of us, take responsibility for safety in the workplace. Speak up for safety. Refuse unsafe work. Take part in the solution before you become the next sad statistic.

How you can nurture a culture of safety within your workplace

By Allison Himmelman, Local 55

Safe workplaces dont just happen. They are created and maintained by people with a passion for keeping their co-workers safe from harm. They are the result of commitment and specific action. The bottom line: they exist because the organization has a positive safety culture.

So what exactly is a culture of safety? And why foster one within an organization?

Generally, a safety culture boils down to shared perceptions about the importance of safety, says Fleming. It consists of the values and attitudes of the people who make up the organization. When a positive safety culture exists, there are high levels of trust and people agree that safety is important; there are safety management systems in place and these are followed and effective.

Research shows that there is a definite link between the safety culture and the number of injuries within an organization.

When we examine organizations with a high rate of injuries or fatalities, we typically find that the employees do not believe that managers and supervisors are truly committed to safety, which tells us the organization has a poor safety culture, explains Fleming. While the workers might have been aware of the danger or potential safety threat, unfortunately, getting the job done was perceived to be more important than their own safety.

Simply put, workplaces with a positive safety culture have a lower injury rate. And a lower injury rate has tremendous benefits for any organization from the bottom line to improved employee morale and a strong reputation. The number of workplace injuries and fatalities in Nova Scotia alone speaks to the need for more organizations to adopt positive safety cultures. The provinces rates are among the highest in the country, with one in 10 Nova Scotians injured on the job each year.

The good news is that this number is continuously decreasing, thanks to workers and employers across the province who are stepping up and making safety a priority for their organizations. But more needs to be done and more organizations need to follow their lead.

The Mainstay Awards celebrate safety excellence by identifying individuals, organizations and companies who are creating and reinforcing a culture of safety in Nova Scotia. So what are these organizations doing differently? How have they created a culture of safety? Its been through strong leadership, established safety policies and employees who take action to minimize risks and ensure injuries are prevented.

For Black & McDonald, the 2010 Mainstay Safety Award of Excellence winner, its about sticking to the goal of zero lost-time incidents and staying true to their motto, No one gets hurt today or tomorrow. Its about making safety a defining characteristic of their operations.

Although a culture of safety starts at the top of any organization, ultimately everyone shares the responsibility. Because when it comes down to it, one Nova Scotian injured on the job is too many. For resources and tips to help create a culture of safety within your organization, visit www.worksafeforlife.ca.

This article was originally written for the Nova Scotia Business Journal by Allison Himmelman, who was recently hired as a Communications Advisor with the Workers Compensation Board of Nova Scotia. She just signed her membership card in March. Welcome to the union, Allison!

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