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WHMIS 2015
FREE TRAINING NOW AVAILABLE IN INUKTITUT!
The WSCC always strives to ensure accessibility of Occupational Health and Safety information. To this end, we are proud to announce that the free online WHMIS 2015 training we have been offering is now available in Inuktitut! This essential information is now free for Inuktitut, English, and French speakers.
In partnership with the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), the WSCC released an online WHMIS 2015 e-course earlier this year to help employers across the Northwest Territories and Nunavut ensure their workers' Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) training is current.
As mentioned in previous issues of SafetyNet this year, helping employers and workers become fully compliant is important because Health Canada has adjusted their compliance schedule for WHMIS 2015, allowing the implementation to take place over a three-stage transition period, culminating in full compliance across Canada by December 1, 2018.
Take advantage of the free online training we are offering today. Access our WHMIS 2015 online course in the language of your choice via the links below:
* Link to the Inuktitut course from the English page. An independent Inuktitut link will be available soon.
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NEW WSCC CONNECT SERVICES
AND WHAT THEY MEAN FOR YOU
Last month, we introduced two new WSCC Connect e-Services: Preauthorized Payments and Account Management. As a WSCC Connect user, what are these new services and how can you benefit from them in the new year?
Preauthorized Payments
Set up preauthorized payments in
WSCC Connect and never be late for a payment again!
Account Management
Is your office relocating? Changing telephone numbers or company contacts? You can manage your account using WSCC Connect, without hassle. Update your employer contact and profile information online and keep us updated on the best way to contact you.
Not a
WSCC Connect user yet? What's keeping you? Check out
the site to see how you can get the most out of our e-Services.
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SPOTLIGHT ON SAFETY: RECYCLING GUY!
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WSCC's CEO Dave Grundy and CEO James Peggs!
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There is nothing we at the WSCC appreciate more than when small businesses step up to show us how they ensure safety in the workplace. Such was the case with 10-year-old James Peggs, otherwise known in Yellowknife as Recycling Guy. He caught our attention not only because of his
young entrepreneurial mind, but more so because of his attention to safety.
We had the pleasure of meeting Recycling Guy during Small Business Week this month - and what a small business it is! As the CEO of his own local recycling company, James works to provide a welcome service to the community that is both thoughtful and environmentally friendly.
What James reminds us of is this:
when it comes to workplace safety, the size of your business does not, and should not matter. There are a few tips all businesses could learn from James:
- When working outdoors, visibility is key: with his reflective safety vest, James ensures he remains highly visible at all times, whether in the daytime or in the darker winter months.
- Identification is important: when working out in the field, having a name tag with your business name helps the public identify you as a worker. (And carrying business cards is also a great idea!)
- Personal protective equipment is a must: James is well-equipped with the appropriate PPE, allowing him to work outdoors in all seasons and conditions. Whether it's a baseball cap in the summer months to shield him from the sun, or gloves and a coat to keep him warm during the winter months, James ensures he's well-prepared to battle the elements while he works.
- Safety in numbers: working alone puts a worker in danger in the event of an accident. By asking an adult to accompany him, James is ensuring his own safety.
Workplace safety is always worth it. Every business, no matter the size, should always pay attention to safety. We think James proves that even a small business can consider workplace health and safety!
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Slips, Trips, and Falls
How to avoid injury this winter
Each year too many workers are injured by slips, trips, and falls.
One in every 5 claims involves this type of injury. With the arrival of cold weather, we want to remind everyone to pay close attention when getting around. Slipping on the floor indoors is bad enough, but falling on ice while exiting a vehicle can hurt even more!
How can falls be prevented? By being aware of the hazards and the control measures:
- Most slips, trips, and falls occur during transitional weather months of October and April.
- Good housekeeping plays a big part in preventing slips, trips, and falls. Clean up work areas and keep your space free of clutter.
- Winter weather increases hazards, particularly when debris and ice are hidden by snow. Icy conditions create additional dangers, so ensure you apply sand and/or calcium to icy areas.
- Wet weather causes muddy feet, which contributes to slips, trips, and falls. Wipe your feet before climbing steps or entering work areas.
- Ensure that you use three point contact (two feet and a hand, or two hands and a foot) when climbing a ladder, when walking down stairs (by using the handrail), when entering or exiting a vehicle, and when transitioning from inside to outside.
- Wear appropriate footwear for the weather and conditions.
Remember: your eyes are your best defence against slips, trips, and falls. Watch your step and look where you are going!
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FIRST ANNUAL blue hard hat awards
In our ongoing mission to promote occupational health and safety (OHS) program awareness, the WSCC presented the first annual Blue Hard Hat Safety Awards this month to the communities of Yellowknife and Hay River. This award is given to communities who show distinction in Occupational Health and Safety, and aims to encourage communities to develop their own OHS programs.
"An OHS program is an integral piece of an organization's Internal Responsibility System to ensuring workplace safety," says Judy Kainz, Director of Prevention and Employer Services. "We recognize the challenges of getting these programs off the ground, and are committed to supporting communities and businesses as well as recognizing their successes."
Bert Hausauer, Chief Safety Officer, and Meta Antolin, Occupational Health and Safety Specialist, presented the awards at the Local Government Administrators of the Northwest Territories (LGANT) Conference and AGM on October 4.
To be eligible for the 2018 Blue Hard Hat Safety Award, community Senior Administrative Officers (SAOs) should begin compiling a list of OHS-related documentation that demonstrates a community's OHS activities for the year. We wish all the communities the best and look forward to next year's submissions!
For more information, please e-mail:
ohsregs@wscc.nt.ca.
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GOT A QUESTION?
find us at these events!
It's that time of year again: WSCC is in the middle of tradeshow season! If you have any questions about our new OHS App,
WSCC Connect's new e-Services, our
Worth It! campaign, or any other questions pertaining to workplace safety, come find us at any one of these upcoming events!
- 45th Annual Geoscience Forum: Hosted in Yellowknife from November 14-16, the WSCC will once again participate as an exhibitor. Come find us at booth #84!
- Skills Canada NWT Power Up!: On November 20-21, the WSCC team will once again host two days of youth-oriented safety training! For the first time, we are partnering with Ron's Auto and taking students around an active workplace for a mock safety inspection. We are very excited about this new partnership and look forward to showcasing the importance of workplace safety in the workplace!
- NNCA Construction Trade Fair and Project Management Conference: Hosted in Yellowknife from November 21-22, the WSCC will have a booth at the Trade Fair, and Judy Kainz, Director of Prevention and Employer Services, will be speaking at the Project Management Conference.
- Yellowknife Santa Claus Parade: As always, the WSCC will be kicking off the holiday season at the annual parade on November 25!
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The Governance Council reviewed and approved the following policies at its September 2017 meeting:
- Policy 04.01, Payment of Compensation
- Policy 04.15, Support Services for Injured Workers
- Policy 10.04, Preventing and Investigating Abuses and Offences
- Policy 11.02, Reporting an Injury, Disease or Death
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OFFICE CLOSURES
WSCC's offices are closed for Remembrance Day on Monday, November 13, and reopen on Tuesday, November 14 at 8:30 AM.
To report a serious workplace injury or incident, call 1-800-661-0792.
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This information will soon be available in Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun on our website.
wscc.nt.ca / 1.800.661.0792 * wscc.nu.ca / 1.877.404.4407
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