News briefs: OHS news from across Canada and around the world

Ontario’s WSIB chair will not seek new term

TORONTO — Steve Mahoney, chair of Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), won’t be seeking another term. Minister of Labour Linda Jeffrey said Mahoney has provided steady direction at the helm of the WSIB through a period of significant transition at the agency. Mahoney said he was very proud of the board’s accomplishments over the past six years. Mahoney will continue to serve as chair until the end of his term in May 2012. A public posting for a new chair will be issued shortly, according to Jeffrey.

High-risk construction trades target of month-long Ontario safety inspection blitz

TORONTO — Inspectors in Ontario will be focusing on safety at high-risk construction workplaces during a province-wide enforcement blitz throughout March. Inspectors from the Ministry of Labour will visit construction projects employing workers in high-rise formwork, low-rise formwork and masonry, siding and built-up roofing work. During the blitz inspectors will check that: work areas are safe from hazards that cause slips, trips or falls and workers are using fall protection systems and equipment properly — such as ladders, platforms and scaffolds. In 2010, six workers died and 159 workers were seriously injured in the five targeted trades as a result of falls. Of those injured, nearly one-half were young workers, according to the Ministry. The blitz will be in addition to regular inspections already undertaken by the Ministry of Labour.

N.B. unveils new tactic to enforce speed limits for commercial vehicles

FREDERICTON — Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officers in New Brunswick aren’t just looking for unsafe trucks and overweight loads anymore — they’re also looking for speeders. The province announced officers have received training and certification to operate radar devices from the RCMP and they have begun enforcing speed limits for commercial vehicles. There are 17 patrol units equipped with the devices. The Department of Public Safety’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit has 58 officers who enforce provincial weight and dimension restrictions, speed limits, and conduct commercial vehicle safety inspections on provincial highways. The unit also conducts several annual truck traffic safety campaigns throughout the province in co-operation with other law enforcement agencies.

WCB Manitoba named one of Canada’s best diversity employers

WINNIPEG — The Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba was named one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2012. The competition recognized 50 organizations across Canada that led the nation in creating diverse and inclusive workplaces. Some of the reasons why the WCB of Manitoba was selected as one of the best diversity employers was the establishment of a diversity committee, comprised of management and union representatives who meet regularly to discuss non-discriminatory employment practices, reduce disparities amongst employee groups and develop recruitment strategies to attract applicants from all walks of life. The committee recently appointed a diversity specialist to oversee and manage the development of diversity initiatives and new employees are required to complete training on topics such as cultural and workforce diversity and employment equity. The organization also participates in a variety of career fairs such as the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce Aboriginal Job Fair, Afro-Caribbean Recruitment Fair, Connecting with Immigrant Workforce and Ability Axis Employment Expo, according to Mediacorp Canada.

WorkSafeBC encourages safe driving at work with new website

VANCOUVER — WorkSafeBC has unveiled a new safe driving website in partnership with the BCAA Road Safety Foundation. The site is aimed at employers whose workers are required to drive in the course of their work, said WorkSafeBC. The website features tips and materials to help employers and workers stay safe while on the road. It guides employers through five simple steps to enhance road policies or create new ones: getting management to commit to improvements, reviewing the status of existing occupational road safety measures, identifying risks and hazards, developing strategies and making an action plan. Each step provides instructions, sample forms and best practices for B.C. employers in order to reduce and eliminate motor vehicle incidents, regardless of a company’s size or industry, said WorkSafeBC. The website is roadsafetyatwork.ca.

United Steelworkers call on Ontario to consider criminal charges against Vale

Sudbury, ONT. — The United Steelworkers (USW) is calling on the Ontario government to consider laying criminal charges against officials and management at Vale, and the company itself, for the deaths of two workers last year at the Stobie mine in Sudbury, Ont. The government must immediately establish a commission of inquiry into mine safety, the union said after releasing a report on the incident. An eight month investigation into the deaths Jason Chenier and Jordan Fram on June 8, 2011, was released by USW Local 6500 in Sudbury. The two miners died after wet mud and ore flooded the tunnel where they were working. The USW report charges that Vale management had ignored ongoing problems with flooding in the mine.  The mud and ore was created by excess water in levels above where Chenier and Fram were killed. The water on those levels was four and five feet deep, the report said. Workers described repeated hang-ups, or obstructions, in the ore-pass or passage that carried material down to the level when Chenier and Fram were working. Clearing these hang-ups is one of the most dangerous jobs in underground mining, according to the report. The USW said it believes Chenier and Fram were trying to do exactly that when wet ore burst out and buried them. Chenier erected double guardrails to prevent the dumping of any more wet ore into the ore-pass. The company has provided no explanation for the removal of the guardrails, the report said. The USW report made a total of 165 recommendations to improve safety at Stobie and other Vale mines in Sudbury and Ontario.

Report from B.C. offers best practices to reduce injuries for ultrasound technologists

VANCOUVER — The Health Sciences Association (HSA) of British Columbia and WorkSafeBC have unveiled a report on preventing injuries to ultrasound technologists. Ten years ago, a survey of British Columbia ultrasound technologists found 91 per cent had suffered work-related injuries at some point in their careers. According to recent medical literature, 80 per cent of sonographers seek medical treatment for musculoskeletal injuries, 17 per cent miss work due to the symptoms of their injuries and 15 per cent reduce their duties to recover. The joint project was a ground-breaking partnership, said HSA president Reid Johnson. Ultrasonographers at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Comox, B.C., and at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital participated in the study. The project resulted in a comprehensive review of best practices for hospital ultrasound technologists. Included in the report are tips for minimizing the risk of injury including ensuring sonographers have the time and training for optimal setup and providing sufficient breaks between patients and avoiding scheduling difficult scans back-to-back. B.C. hospitals are experiencing a shortage of diagnostic imaging staff.  This shortage is particularly acute in the interior and the north of the province. Ultrasound staff work long overtime hours in an effort to forestall any further wait lists, said Johnson. The full report can be downloaded from www.hsabc.org in the resources section, under health and safety.

Nominations open for N.L. 2012 health and safety educator award

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — The Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission of Newfoundland and Labrador (WHSCC) is accepting nominations for the 2012 health and safety educator award. The award is given annually to an educator who has demonstrated a commitment to the promotion and advancement of young worker health and safety. Nominations will be accepted from the department of education, school districts, peers, students and the WHSCC. The teacher or administrator has to have demonstrated a commitment to creating a culture of safety for Newfoundland and Labrador youth. He must promote the experience of Workplace Safety 3220, career development or skilled trades courses.

Absenteeism in U.S. reaches 10-year low: Survey

ARLINGTON, VA. — Absenteeism in 2011 has eclipsed the record lows observed in 2009, according to a recent survey by Bloomberg BNA. Through 2011, median rates of unscheduled employee absences (excluding long-term absences and partial days out) averaged 0.6 per cent of scheduled work days per month. This is a decrease from the 0.8 per cent levels observed in 2010 and, the 0.7 per cent in 2009, and it marks a 10-year low — well below the absence rates of 1.3 per cent or more observed from 1985 to 2006. The largest declines in absence rates were observed in organizations with 1,000 to 2,499 employees.