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2019 Mine Rescue Competition
And the winners are...

Mine Rescue 2019 results are in.

The Annual Mine Rescue Competition brings mine rescue volunteers together so they can practice essential skills and learn from one another. The challenges mimic real life disaster scenarios, testing the team's abilities to handle those unthinkable moments when a crisis occurs.

Six mines competed in a total of 14 categories for the title of Overall Surface/Underground champion.

The 2019 Winners are...

Bench Technician
Craig Archibald, Diavik Diamond Mine (Rio Tinto Ltd.)
Surface First Aid
Baffinland Iron Mine (Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation)
Underground First Aid
Diavik Diamond Mine (Rio Tinto Ltd.)
Surface Practical Bench
Gahcho Ku é  Diamond Mine (De Beers Canada Inc.)
Fire Fighting
Baffinland Iron Mines (Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation)
Surface Rope Rescue
Meadowbank Gold Mine (Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd.)
Underground Rope Rescue
Diavik Diamond Mine (Rio Tinto Ltd.)
Surface Written Test
 Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine (De Beers Canada Inc.)
Underground Written Test
 Diavik Diamond Mine (Rio Tinto Ltd.)
Surface Smoke
 Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine (De Beers Canada Inc.)
Underground Smoke
 Diavik Diamond Mine (Rio Tinto Ltd.)
Underground Bench/Field Test 
 Diavik Diamond Mine (Rio Tinto Ltd.)
Surface Obstacle/Extrication
 Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine (De Beers Canada Inc.)
Underground Obstacle
 Diavik Diamond Mine (Rio Tinto Ltd.)
Overall Surface 
 Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine (De Beers Canada Inc.)
Overall Underground
 Diavik Diamond Mine (Rio Tinto Ltd.)

A huge congratulations to all of the teams that competed. The work that you do is essential for safety in the mining industry, and the WSCC would like to acknowledge all of your hard work and dedication to the safety of those around you.
We look forward to seeing everyone at Mine Rescue 2020 on June 6th, 2020.
Toolbox TAlks
Government Week and AN ongoing offer



Our Safety and Health Week celebrations are officially done but ToolBox Talks will continue. The WSCC kicked off Safety and Health Week 2019 by launching Toolbox Talks 101 to provide employers with the opportunity to have an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Inspector visit to help plan and deliver a customized Toolbox Talk. Starting in May, we visited over 30 employers across 6 communities in the NT and NU and finished up last week with Government Week by working with a wide range of departments in Inuvik, Iqaluit, and Yellowknife.

What's next? We're now offering Toolbox Talks year-round. If you'd like to have an OHS Inspector come to your workplace and talk about safety, let us know. See what topics we have materials on, and email us to sign up. Let's keep the conversation about safety going - it's Worth It!
2019 AWCBC Governance Summit
Inclusion: Responding to Contemporary Canadian Stakeholders  

Inclusion - Michael Bach - Graphic Recording completed by Alison Mcreesh © 

The Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) was proud to host the 2019 Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada's (AWCBC) Governance Summit, during the 100th year anniversary of the AWCBC.

This conference brings together representatives from the workers compensation boards from across Canada to discuss trends in workplace safety, share challenges and learn from one another on how best to meet the needs of Canadian workers and employers.
Resource Feature:  Code of Practices

The Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission's website has a great deal of information for workers, employers and the general public. In order to help you navigate these resources, you will find a feature in SafetyNet that highlights one resource every month. This month, the focus is Codes of Practice.

Why Should I review a Code of Practice?

Where the safety legislation requires you to manage safety, the codes guide you on how you can do it on specific topics. WSCC develops Codes of Practice to provide employers detailed guidelines on how to implement best work practices that comply with regulatory requirements. The Codes of Practices are essential documents for creating or reviewing your own Occupational Health and Safety Policy regarding specific subjects, for understanding your role and responsibilities in workplace safety, and for ensuring supervisors and employees, meet or exceed the NWT and NU Safety Acts, the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations and the WSCC safety expectations. Each code outlines essential information, including: 
  • The Safety Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, relevant legislation on the subject;
  • Hazards to be aware of regarding the subject of the code;
  • Tips and templates for implementing policies and practices in your own workplace; and,
  • Further resources and contact information for any additional questions.
You can find a full range of WSCC's Codes on our web page. This page is regularly updated with new codes of practice, and we promote all new codes on our Facebook and Twitter page as they are published. If you have any additional questions, or want to learn more about WSCC's resources, please contact us.

















Young Worker SAfety Update
Skills Canada - Youth Video Contest


Spring is a busy time for all the Skills Canada teams as competitors from across the country prepare to compete at the National Skills Canada competition. This year more than 650 of the best and brightest young people, from both secondary and post-secondary levels, gathered in Halifax NS from May 28th and 29th, 2019 to demonstrate their skills in 44 different trades and technology competitions, including Skill 92 - Workplace Safety. All three of our Northern competitors did an amazing job with Yukon taking a Silver Metal and NT and NU both holding their own with a strong showing. Ava from Fort Simpson, NT and Kenia from Whale Cove, NU proudly represented the next generation of Safety Professionals across the NT and NU and we couldn't be more proud.

In addition to the success at Skills, the WSCC is pleased to say that three students from Sir John Franklin high school in Yellowknife, NT won first place in the CCOHS National Youth Video Contest for their video Workplace Spook, encouraging youth to be aware of their rights in the workplace. Huge congratulations to this team of future workers, who have shown a very clear understanding of the importance of knowing your rights as a worker! Check out their video here.


















POLICY CHANGES

The Governance Council reviewed and approved the following policies and GC directives at its June 2019 meeting:
  • Policy 04.02, Medical Aid and Associated Costs
  • Policy 04.04, Complementary and Alternative Treatments
  • Policy 04.07, Medical Examinations
  • Policy 06.03, Calculation of Permanent Compensation
Please refer to the WSCC Policy Manual to view all WSCC policies or the Governance Council Directives to view all governance directives.
OFFICE CLOSURES

WSCC's offices are closed for Canada Day on Monday July 1st. The office will reopen on Tuesday, July 2ndat 8:30 AM. Our Nunavut office will additionally be closed for Nunavut Day on Tuesday July 9th. The office will reopen on Wednesday July 10th.

To report a serious workplace injury or incident, call 1-800-661-0792.

To report unsafe work, use our Report Unsafe Work service on WSCC Connect.
wscc.nt.ca   /  1.800.661.0792   *   wscc.nu.ca  /  1.877.404.4407