Saskatchewan injury rate lowest in 20 years • Alberta strengthens safety enforcement, inspections, investigations • Apprentice ratio changed in Alberta • Ontario MSD blitz results • New offshore training, safety equipment in N.L. • Atlantic provinces launch addictions toolkit • New common mine safety training standards in N.W.T.
Saskatchewan injury rate lowest in 20 years
REGINA — In 2010, Saskatchewan achieved its lowest total workplace injury rate in more than 20 years. The total injury rate decreased from 9.32 per cent in 2009 to 8.7 per cent in 2010. The province’s lost-time injury rate was 3.12 per cent, a decrease of 9.1 per cent from 2009, which represents the eighth straight year of decreases. “These numbers are noteworthy because in 2010, we had more Saskatchewan people working and fewer being injured,” said Deputy Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Mike Carr. “We are encouraged by these reductions, but even one workplace injury is too many. We must all continue increasing our efforts to eliminate workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities.”
Alberta strengthens safety enforcement, inspections, investigations
CALGARY — Thirty new occupational health and safety (OHS) officers will be hired over the next three years in Alberta. The officers will conduct on-the-spot inspections of Alberta companies, educate employers and workers on OHS legislation and investigate serious incidents. By 2014, there will be 132 OHS officers, a 55 per cent increase from the 86 officers in early 2010. OHS enforcement, inspections and investigations will be divided into three regions instead of two, said the government. The traditional regions of north and south, divided near Red Deer, will become north, central and south, providing a greater focus in northern Alberta — the site of major economic activity.
Apprentice ratio changed
CALGARY — The Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board has changed the ratio of the number of apprentices a journeyperson can train. As of Jan. 31, 2011, one journeyperson can train two apprentices in 37 out of 50 trades. Before the new regulations came into effect, one journeyperson could train only one apprentice. The change affects most skilled trades including electricians, carpenters and plumbers. This change was made to help prepare for an anticipated increase in demand for skilled tradespeople in the province. The change brings Alberta’s rules in line with recent changes in Saskatchewan.
MSD blitz results
TORONTO — The Ontario Ministry of Labour issued 8,851 orders during its two-month musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) blitz in late 2010. Twenty-seven per cent of these orders were specifically related to MSD hazards. The ministry visited 2,778 workplaces in the industrial, health care, construction and mining sectors. Overall, the most common orders issued were time-based and were for training, maintaining equipment, keeping floors free from obstacles, materials handling and taking every precaution reasonable under the circumstances for the protection of workers.
New offshore training, safety equipment
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — The Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland has launched new offshore training technology. The university will be the first institution in the world to use new simulation equipment, SurvivalQuest, that improves the safety of lifeboat training and was developed by Virtual Marine Technology. “The SurvivalQuest simulator is a superlative example of how researchers, responding to a problem affecting offshore safety in the province, developed an advanced solution of global importance and impact,” said Christopher Loomis, vice-president of research at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Atlantic provinces launch addictions toolkit
HALIFAX — The Atlantic Provinces are joining together to offer employers a new way of dealing with the impact of substance abuse in the workplace. The Problematic Substance Abuse toolkit is the product of a three-year Atlantic Canada project funded by Health Canada. At a meeting in 2005, Atlantic Canada deputy ministers and Health Canada decided to collaborate in the areas of mental health and addictions. The Atlantic Canada Council on Addiction chose addictions in the workplace as the topic for a joint demonstration project. Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island are all currently launching the toolkit and will soon start testing it with select employers, training stakeholders in its use and evaluating the success of the project.
New common mine safety training standards in N.W.T.
YELLOWKNIFE — New common standards for mine safety training are being developed by the government of the Northwest Territories (N.W.T.), the Northern Safety Association (NSA) and the three diamond mines in the N.W.T (BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and De Beers Canada). The safety standards will be recognized by all three mining companies and will provide N.W.T residents with mine safety training to improve their employment opportunities. In 2008, N.W.T and the three diamond mines signed a memorandum of understanding, to collaborate on an initiative to develop programs that help N.W.T residents obtain the education and skills they need to work at the diamond mines, and find ways to attract mine workers and their families to live and work in the N.W.T.
REGINA — In 2010, Saskatchewan achieved its lowest total workplace injury rate in more than 20 years. The total injury rate decreased from 9.32 per cent in 2009 to 8.7 per cent in 2010. The province’s lost-time injury rate was 3.12 per cent, a decrease of 9.1 per cent from 2009, which represents the eighth straight year of decreases. “These numbers are noteworthy because in 2010, we had more Saskatchewan people working and fewer being injured,” said Deputy Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Mike Carr. “We are encouraged by these reductions, but even one workplace injury is too many. We must all continue increasing our efforts to eliminate workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities.”
Alberta strengthens safety enforcement, inspections, investigations
CALGARY — Thirty new occupational health and safety (OHS) officers will be hired over the next three years in Alberta. The officers will conduct on-the-spot inspections of Alberta companies, educate employers and workers on OHS legislation and investigate serious incidents. By 2014, there will be 132 OHS officers, a 55 per cent increase from the 86 officers in early 2010. OHS enforcement, inspections and investigations will be divided into three regions instead of two, said the government. The traditional regions of north and south, divided near Red Deer, will become north, central and south, providing a greater focus in northern Alberta — the site of major economic activity.
Apprentice ratio changed
CALGARY — The Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board has changed the ratio of the number of apprentices a journeyperson can train. As of Jan. 31, 2011, one journeyperson can train two apprentices in 37 out of 50 trades. Before the new regulations came into effect, one journeyperson could train only one apprentice. The change affects most skilled trades including electricians, carpenters and plumbers. This change was made to help prepare for an anticipated increase in demand for skilled tradespeople in the province. The change brings Alberta’s rules in line with recent changes in Saskatchewan.
MSD blitz results
TORONTO — The Ontario Ministry of Labour issued 8,851 orders during its two-month musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) blitz in late 2010. Twenty-seven per cent of these orders were specifically related to MSD hazards. The ministry visited 2,778 workplaces in the industrial, health care, construction and mining sectors. Overall, the most common orders issued were time-based and were for training, maintaining equipment, keeping floors free from obstacles, materials handling and taking every precaution reasonable under the circumstances for the protection of workers.
New offshore training, safety equipment
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — The Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland has launched new offshore training technology. The university will be the first institution in the world to use new simulation equipment, SurvivalQuest, that improves the safety of lifeboat training and was developed by Virtual Marine Technology. “The SurvivalQuest simulator is a superlative example of how researchers, responding to a problem affecting offshore safety in the province, developed an advanced solution of global importance and impact,” said Christopher Loomis, vice-president of research at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Atlantic provinces launch addictions toolkit
HALIFAX — The Atlantic Provinces are joining together to offer employers a new way of dealing with the impact of substance abuse in the workplace. The Problematic Substance Abuse toolkit is the product of a three-year Atlantic Canada project funded by Health Canada. At a meeting in 2005, Atlantic Canada deputy ministers and Health Canada decided to collaborate in the areas of mental health and addictions. The Atlantic Canada Council on Addiction chose addictions in the workplace as the topic for a joint demonstration project. Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island are all currently launching the toolkit and will soon start testing it with select employers, training stakeholders in its use and evaluating the success of the project.
New common mine safety training standards in N.W.T.
YELLOWKNIFE — New common standards for mine safety training are being developed by the government of the Northwest Territories (N.W.T.), the Northern Safety Association (NSA) and the three diamond mines in the N.W.T (BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and De Beers Canada). The safety standards will be recognized by all three mining companies and will provide N.W.T residents with mine safety training to improve their employment opportunities. In 2008, N.W.T and the three diamond mines signed a memorandum of understanding, to collaborate on an initiative to develop programs that help N.W.T residents obtain the education and skills they need to work at the diamond mines, and find ways to attract mine workers and their families to live and work in the N.W.T.
