REA - EHS Headlines - Western Canada

June 2004 - Western Canada Edition

Some Recent WCB Facts and Figures
The Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) estimates that an average of three workers were killed on the job each week in 2003. That means that last year more than 150 men and women did not return home to their families at the end of the day. In fact, nearly 3000 injuries were reported to the WCB each week in 2003 leading to almost 54,000 lost days of work. Worker pain and suffering aside, work-related injuries represent a huge cost to this province in terms of lost productivity. Each week, the WCB pays out seventeen million dollars in claims, an immense amount by any measure. This creates an obvious incentive for both employers and WCB to strive for a reduction in work-related injury and illness, especially when you consider that a one-percent reduction in the injury rate would lead to an annual savings of seven million dollars. With respect to ergonomics, musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) accounted for nearly one third of all claims filed last year. Clearly, acting to reduce ergonomic hazards in the workplace would go a long way toward reducing work-related injuries. Part 4 of the WCB Occupational Health and Safety Regulation contains the Ergonomics (MSI) Requirements. This Part specifies that an employer must “identify factors in the workplace that may expose workers to a risk of musculoskeletal injury”. Once risk factors have been identified, an employer must assess the risk posed to exposed workers and control the risk by eliminating the risk factor wherever possible. In addition, the Regulation requires an employer to train workers in MSI risk identification, including the recognition of early signs and symptoms of MSIs and their potential health effects. Remember, it is the specific legislated duty of every employer to protect the health and safety of each of its workers. For more information on ergonomics or any other health and safety issues, please feel free to contact Craig Ollenberger at 1-888-732-4347.

REA News: Our New Ottawa Office
REA has been established in the Ottawa area for over five years and we are happy to announce that we have relocated to our newly renovated office and training facility at 30 Concourse Gate, Suite 110 in Ottawa South. Jennifer Stoneman (nee Richardson) will continue to provide quality health and safety consulting services to our Eastern Ontario and Quebec clients. For more information on REA services in Ottawa, please contact Jennifer at 613-225-5200.

UPCOMING COURSES

WORKSAFE^TM COURSES

Joint Health & Safety Committee Training:
Sep. 14, 2004 – Burnaby
Nov. 9, 2004 – Burnaby

Hazard Recognition and Control:
Sep. 8, 2004 – Burnaby
Dec. 2, 2004 – Burnaby

Occupational Health and Safety in Small Business:
Aug. 18, 2004 – Burnaby
Dec. 9, 2004 – Burnaby

Preventing and Investigating Musculoskeletal injury (MSI):
Aug. 10, 2004 – Burnaby
Oct. 19, 2004 – Burnaby

Preventing Workplace Violence:
Oct. 14, 2004 – Burnaby

Supervisor Safety Management:
Sep. 1, 2004 – Burnaby
Nov. 24, 2004 – Burnaby

Due Diligence for Managers, Supervisors, Officers & Directors:
Oct. 13, 2004 – Burnaby
Nov. 15, 2004 – Calgary

Contractor and Project Safety Management:
Sep. 22 & 23, 2004 – Calgary
Oct. 6 & 7, 2004 – Burnaby

Machine and Process Safeguarding:
Oct. 21, 2004 – Calgary
Nov. 25, 2004 – Burnaby

Industrial Ergonomics for Safety and Performance:
Oct. 22, 2004 – Calgary
Nov. 26, 2004 – Burnaby

OHSAS 18001 – OHS Management System Awareness Course:
Sep. 15, 2004 – Burnaby
Sep. 24, 2004 – Calgary

OHSAS 18001 – OHS Management System Implementation Course:
Oct. 18 – 20, 2004 – Calgary

Canada Labour Code, Part II - OHS for Managers & Supervisors:
Jul. 13, 2004 – Edmonton
Sep. 21, 2004 – Calgary
Oct. 20, 2004 – Burnaby

Canada Labour Code, Part II - Work Place & policy Health and Safety Committees:
Aug. 17 & 18, 2004 – Edmonton
Sep. 9 & 10, 2004 – Calgary
Oct. 4 & 5, 2004 – Burnaby

Mould: Infection and Control in Facilities:
Sep. 16, 2004 – Burnaby
Nov. 18, 2004 – Calgary

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