After 7 workplace deaths in the months of 2012, the province examines its OHS
Seven workplace deaths have rocked Nova Scotia in the first months of 2012, sparking a sudden soul-searching over the state of occupational health and safety practices in the province.
To date, two truckers died in separate motor vehicle accidents, two fisherman drowned while checking on lobster crates at low tide, a farm worker was killed by a falling tree and a man was crushed underneath equipment he was cleaning while sandblasting.
The seventh workplace death was a shipyard worker who had a fatal heart attack on the job.
Given that between 2007 and 2011 an average of 25 workers died on the job each year in Nova Scotia, so many deaths so early in 2012 has raised alarm bells — prompting Minister of Labour and Advanced Education Marilyn More to issue a warning about safety in the workplace.
“This is a tragic start to 2012 and all of us must take immediate action to avoid further injuries, illnesses and deaths in our workplaces,” More said. “Whether one works on a hectic shop floor or a seemingly safe office, we need to change our ‘I’ve done this a million times so it must be safe’ mindset.”
The incidents remain under investigation. Also startling is how, in recent years, nearly one-half of all workplace deaths in Nova Scotia were caused by chronic illnesses like heart or lung disease. The fact six of the seven workplace fatalities in 2012 were “acute incidents” is “certainly out of the ordinary,” according to Jim LeBlanc, executive director of the Occupational Health and Safety division for the Department of Labour and Advanced Education.
LeBlanc said he hopes the minister’s warning helps heighten awareness so employers and employees are more vigilant to the risks facing them at work.
“In so many investigations, we find that most injuries could have been avoided if more consideration had been given to the task and how it was to be done,” he said.
“The most important issue for both employers and employees is to do an initial hazard assessment when they’re undertaking work and to put measures in place to prevent accidents from occurring.”
But some believe more can be done. Bruce Collins, general manager of the Nova Scotia Construction Safety Association, said it’s not enough to tell the province’s employers and employees to just be more careful.
“They are raising awareness about workplace safety, but the government really has the power to make a difference,” Collins said. “I’m hoping that the minister uses the opportunity of having ‘Advanced Education’ in her portfolio to integrate occupational health and safety in the education of Nova Scotians at all levels. That would be the biggest step for long-term accident prevention.”
To help boost worker safety training in Nova Scotia, Collins points to worker induction programs used for certain industries in Australia. In the construction industry for example, employees aren’t allowed to work until they have completed construction induction training and granted a White Card, which is like a “driver’s license for working,” Collins said.
The impact of some of Nova Scotia’s efforts to improve workplace safety may be seen further down the road.
The Ministry of Labour and Advanced Education is working with the Workers Compensation Board to set a five-year strategic plan towards 2018, LeBlanc said.
“There was a plan put in 2003 and most of the issues identified have been addressed. We’re now looking at refreshing that plan and consulting with employees, employees and other stakeholders to identify what they think our next priorities should be,” LeBlanc said.
The 2003 plan involved regulation revisions, focusing on injury prevention, trying to improve the internal responsibility system in workplaces and bringing occupational health and safety education into the public school system.
For the latter priority, LeBlanc said every Grade 9 student is now exposed to occupational health and safety education as part of public schools’ core curriculum. Despite heightened concerns over Nova Scotia’s spike in workplace deaths, there are signs the province’s occupational health and safety practices have improved over the years. According to data from the Worker’s Compensation Board, in 2011 there were 678 time-loss injury claims in the province’s construction industry.
It’s the first time that the construction industry has maintained time-loss injuries in the 600-700 range over any five-year period since 1959 to 1964, even though the construction industry has never been larger than it is now. The Nova Scotia Construction Safety Association (NSCSA) believes this improved safety record is a result of its Certificate of Recognition Program, which recognizes companies who have implemented a successful safety program.
“The point is, we have to change the culture in a positive way,” Collins said. “And education and awareness of employers’ and employees’ obligations and rights is the key.”
To date, two truckers died in separate motor vehicle accidents, two fisherman drowned while checking on lobster crates at low tide, a farm worker was killed by a falling tree and a man was crushed underneath equipment he was cleaning while sandblasting.
The seventh workplace death was a shipyard worker who had a fatal heart attack on the job.
Given that between 2007 and 2011 an average of 25 workers died on the job each year in Nova Scotia, so many deaths so early in 2012 has raised alarm bells — prompting Minister of Labour and Advanced Education Marilyn More to issue a warning about safety in the workplace.
“This is a tragic start to 2012 and all of us must take immediate action to avoid further injuries, illnesses and deaths in our workplaces,” More said. “Whether one works on a hectic shop floor or a seemingly safe office, we need to change our ‘I’ve done this a million times so it must be safe’ mindset.”
The incidents remain under investigation. Also startling is how, in recent years, nearly one-half of all workplace deaths in Nova Scotia were caused by chronic illnesses like heart or lung disease. The fact six of the seven workplace fatalities in 2012 were “acute incidents” is “certainly out of the ordinary,” according to Jim LeBlanc, executive director of the Occupational Health and Safety division for the Department of Labour and Advanced Education.
LeBlanc said he hopes the minister’s warning helps heighten awareness so employers and employees are more vigilant to the risks facing them at work.
“In so many investigations, we find that most injuries could have been avoided if more consideration had been given to the task and how it was to be done,” he said.
“The most important issue for both employers and employees is to do an initial hazard assessment when they’re undertaking work and to put measures in place to prevent accidents from occurring.”
But some believe more can be done. Bruce Collins, general manager of the Nova Scotia Construction Safety Association, said it’s not enough to tell the province’s employers and employees to just be more careful.
“They are raising awareness about workplace safety, but the government really has the power to make a difference,” Collins said. “I’m hoping that the minister uses the opportunity of having ‘Advanced Education’ in her portfolio to integrate occupational health and safety in the education of Nova Scotians at all levels. That would be the biggest step for long-term accident prevention.”
To help boost worker safety training in Nova Scotia, Collins points to worker induction programs used for certain industries in Australia. In the construction industry for example, employees aren’t allowed to work until they have completed construction induction training and granted a White Card, which is like a “driver’s license for working,” Collins said.
The impact of some of Nova Scotia’s efforts to improve workplace safety may be seen further down the road.
The Ministry of Labour and Advanced Education is working with the Workers Compensation Board to set a five-year strategic plan towards 2018, LeBlanc said.
“There was a plan put in 2003 and most of the issues identified have been addressed. We’re now looking at refreshing that plan and consulting with employees, employees and other stakeholders to identify what they think our next priorities should be,” LeBlanc said.
The 2003 plan involved regulation revisions, focusing on injury prevention, trying to improve the internal responsibility system in workplaces and bringing occupational health and safety education into the public school system.
For the latter priority, LeBlanc said every Grade 9 student is now exposed to occupational health and safety education as part of public schools’ core curriculum. Despite heightened concerns over Nova Scotia’s spike in workplace deaths, there are signs the province’s occupational health and safety practices have improved over the years. According to data from the Worker’s Compensation Board, in 2011 there were 678 time-loss injury claims in the province’s construction industry.
It’s the first time that the construction industry has maintained time-loss injuries in the 600-700 range over any five-year period since 1959 to 1964, even though the construction industry has never been larger than it is now. The Nova Scotia Construction Safety Association (NSCSA) believes this improved safety record is a result of its Certificate of Recognition Program, which recognizes companies who have implemented a successful safety program.
“The point is, we have to change the culture in a positive way,” Collins said. “And education and awareness of employers’ and employees’ obligations and rights is the key.”
