An overview of what you need to know to get ready for the Globally Harmonized System

Presented by AWARE-NS

April 28 marks the National Day of Mourning - a day to to remember those hurt or killed in the workplace.

 

Jamie Lapierre died  on a barge in Port Hawkesbury, at the age of 21. Jamie's story is especially meaningful  as Jamie and I  lived  in the same community.  Like most small communities in Nova Scotia the connections are many. I have witnessed the person pain of both his family and friends having to carry on without him. His death and the impact of his loss  has had on his family and friends is what  motivates me to everything  I can to make workplaces in Nova Scotia safer. Unfortunately,Jamie's story  is one of many stories that affect families  in Nova Scotia every year.

 

 

A few years ago, the WCB partnered with Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Workforce Development (the former Department of Environment and Labour) and the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour to develop a series of four television ads. The ads feature Jamie's mother, father, girlfriend and best friend, speaking about Jamie and the hole left in their lives.

 

They reveal the ultimate price paid when something goes horribly wrong on the job. 

Although we cannot change the tragedies of the past, together we can shape a safer future for workers in Nova Scotia.

 

Jamie's mom, Brenda

Jamie's dad, Andre

Jamie's best friend, Roger

 

 

How can you participate in making a dedication to those who have died or been injured at work?

 

• observing a moment of silence
• downloading and displaying a poster in your workplace
•  sharing a video with your company announcement
•  attending a ceremony
•   lowering flags to half-mast
•  talk about it and re-new your commitment to safety practices
•  Keep your self safe - be informed and work safe everyday 

 

 

 

Heather Matthews

OHS Specailist

 

 

 

Working group members collaborate to share their workplace violence prevention tools.

 

Violence is an issue that affects the safety and security of employees, residents and visitors at your organization.  Violence claims a high personal cost from the emotional trauma and physical injury experienced by victims, their families and co-workers.  Violence also brings high costs to the employer, including: increased absenteeism, higher sick leave costs, lost productivity, high employee turn-over, higher insurance premiums and increased WCB premiums.

 

The Occupational Health and Safety act, Violence in the Workplace Regulations (N.S. Reg. 209/2007) requires designated employers to identify the risks associated with workplace violence and manage them accordingly.  Acts of violence do not necessarily require intent to harm.  In healthcare and community services, it is often while providing client or patient care that a situation of workplace violence can arise.

 

AWARE-NS and WCB have been working in partnership with a provincial working group with representation from long term care, adult residential care and regional residential care, is sharing best practices and consolidating resource materials for use in health care and community services.  Our focus has been to develop workplace violence prevention resources to support workplaces in their efforts to reduce incidents of workplace violence.  These resources will assist Employers to ensure a comprehensive violence prevention plan is developed and that best practices to develop the skills of workers to minimize risk factors associated with workplace violence are shared.Step one of the resource guide in now available click the items under the resource section below to help assess and continue develop your Workplace Violence Program.