 |
 |
 |
Did you know that an effective return to work program is essential to an injured worker's rehabilitation process? Recovery from a workplace injury or illness can be assisted with the support of a return to work plan that allows the worker to recover on the job while still performing meaningful work. In this way, a strong program also helps to support the mental health of injured or ill workers.
A strong return to work program has benefits that extend beyond the wellbeing of the injured worker. Having a program in place shows all workers that the employer values their health and safety. It boosts workplace morale, helps employers retain knowledgeable and experienced staff, and ultimately fosters a positive health and safety culture in your organization.
Return to Work Program Development
The WSCC's Code of Practice called Return to Work Program Development will help employers better understand legislative requirements related to return to work programs, and how to create and maintain a successful return to work program. In it you will find:
- Clear interpretation of legislation;
- Specific requirements for your return to work policy, program, and procedure;
- An outline of roles and responsibilities; and,
- Guides for where you will find additional resources and templates.
A solid return to work program will benefit everyone in your organization. It is important that your organization develop a program that suits the needs of your workplace. For more information, check out our Return to Work page, or call us at 1 (800) 661-0792 for guidance in developing your program.
To see all available Codes of Practice, visit our website today.
|
|
Roles and Access Levels
The WSCC continues to grow and develop our e-services on WSCC Connect. This means more convenience for your business, faster reporting, and better record keeping. As WSCC Connect evolves, the user roles become even more important to the operations of your business. Ensure that your account users are set up properly.
Access administrator
Who should be an Access Administrator? Depending on the size of your business, your Access Administrator could be either the business owner, or the person managing overall operations. This individual has an important role. They have access to all online services, all of your business's information and the ability to manage user accounts on behalf of that business. Remember that the Access Administrator role can be re-assigned if necessary and needs to always be up-to-date.
When it was first launched, WSCC Connect was a method for employers to report their annual payroll. Some key e-services have been added since then, most recently the Employer's Report of Incident service. This means more people within your organization may require access to WSCC Connect.
Typically, the following people will have access:
- Operations and administration personnel - Employers, managers, or staff responsible for the operational requirements of your business.
- Accounts payable or payroll personnel - Anyone who handles contractors, payroll reporting to the WSCC, or staff payroll.
- OHS personnel - Staff involved in your Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (JOHSC), and anyone who holds responsibility for your organization's safety program.
- Supervisors and managers - Anyone who requires access to the Employer's Report of Injury Form.
Essential Services
Some WSCC Connect e-services are tied to legislative requirements and are essential for the operations of your business. Your business must determine who requires access to each of these e-services. The e-services tied to legislative requirements are:
New businesses or businesses starting operations in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut MUST register their business with the WSCC within 10 days of operations starting.
Due February 28th every year, this is a legislative requirement for all employers, even when you are reporting zero (0) payroll to keep your account active and up-to-date. Annual Payroll Reporting has an OHS component, so accounts payable personnel should consult with the person managing OHS before starting this process. To learn more, visit our website.
Working with asbestos is considered high hazard work. If your company is involved in any asbestos work in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, you are required to submit notification to the WSCC. To learn more on working safely with asbestos, review the Asbestos Abatement Code of Practice.
learn more
Don't forget... whenever signing up a new user, make sure they say yes to the option "Email me WSCC updates, deadlines, and safety news," to ensure they are receiving timely and essential updates and OHS information via SafetyNet!
|
|
Safety Spotlight
Seasonal Changes and Slips, Trips, and Falls
In 2020, slips, trips, and falls made up 22% of incident claims in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Statistically, incident and injury rates tend to be higher during seasonal changes. As the weather changes and as we prepare for upcoming summer work, here are some things to keep in mind:
When temperatures get warmer and then suddenly dip, the risk of slips becomes greater. Snow and ice melt, then freeze with a sheer flat surface, and then is covered by more snow. This causes even more hazardous conditions! Ensure that your walkways are cleared, salt and gravel are on key corners and high traffic areas, and frequently remind your workers to:
- Slow down.
- Pay attention.
- Wear proper footwear.
Trips
Spring is synonymous with "spring cleaning." It is a time where many feel inclined to declutter after a long winter as they get ready for the warm summer weather. Embrace this time as an opportunity to remind your employees about proper housekeeping in the workplace. To prevent tripping incidents, avoid clutter in office spaces and around work sites, particularly in high traffic areas. If you do have cluttered spaces in your office or work site, why not have one or two employees tackle different areas as a project? Encourage them to look for new storage solutions that will help prevent clutter in the future.
Falls
As the weather gets warmer, several seasonal jobs start up. Many jobs that require outdoor work from heights take place exclusively in warmer weather (construction and roofing projects). Remember, any employee working from heights must be trained to do so, and have proper fall protection when they are working over 3 meters from the ground. Ensure that your workers are prepared to do a job safely BEFORE the work starts.
Learn more
The WSCC has many resources on slip, trip, and fall prevention. Check out our Safety Bulletin page for resources and inspiration for your upcoming safety meetings. If you have specific questions related to slips, trips, and falls, contact us at 1 (800) 661-0792. If you want to notify the Chief OHS Inspector of upcoming high hazard work, email us at CSHO@wscc.nt.ca or CSHO@wscc.nu.ca.
|
|
wscc.nt.ca / 1.800.661.0792 * wscc.nu.ca / 1.877.404.4407
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
