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IT'S NAOSH WEEK!
MAY 6-12, 2018
North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week is
May 6-12, 2018 and we want to celebrate with you!
NAOSH Week Kick-off in Yellowknife
Join the Canadian Society of Safety Engineers (CSSE) as they launch NAOSH Week festivities at the Chateau Nova Hotel on Monday, May 7 from 9:00 AM to 4:45 PM with a kick-off breakfast and safety seminar. To register, email
cssenorthof60@gmail.com.
Sign up for WSCC's Safety Coffee Breaks!
For NAOSH Week, the WSCC is offering Toolbox Talks in several communities throughout the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
Register for a Safety Coffee Break
, and we will come to you with coffee and snacks, and will lead a safety moment with you and your staff.
Safety Coffee Breaks will be available in both Nunavut and the Northwest Territories in the following communities: Iqaluit, Yellowknife, Hay River, Inuvik, Pangnirtung, and Rankin Inlet.
Choose from the list of topics below, gather your staff, and we'll do the rest!
- Competent Supervisors and Workers
- Confined Spaces
- Ergonomics
- Fall Protection
- Field Risk Assessments
- Housekeeping - Slips, Trips and Falls
- Internal Responsibility System
- Respiratory Protection
- Return to Work
- Thermal Conditions - Cold Stress
- WHMIS 2015
- Workplace Violence and Harassment
Sessions are limited, so sign up today! Registration ends May 6, 2018.
Note:
All sessions will be delivered in English, but our Toolbox Talk information sheets will be available in English, French, Inuktitut, and Inuinnaqtun.
Not in one of the above listed communities? Don't fear - you can still participate in NAOSH Week! For details on ways to celebrate NAOSH Week in your office, check out our
website
!
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GOVERNANCE COUNCIL 101
MEET DAVID TUCKER, GC CHAIR
Describe to us your role within the GC.
As the Governance Council Chair, my role involves managing the ongoing business of the Governance Council overall and specifically, managing the conduct of our meetings. This role also involves communicating with our Ministers Responsible in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut to keep them up-to-date and informed of our plans, and providing salient information and analysis on safety and compensation issues.
How long have you been part of the GC, and why did you decide to join?
I have been part of the GC since September 2012. I originally put my name forward at the suggestion of the previous Chair, Mr. Bill Aho. I had worked with Bill on other boards and he told me many good things about the organization.
What does workplace safety mean to you?
As a business owner in my "other" life, safety is of the highest importance to me. I've always viewed safety as "the first and most important thing." The trick has been translating good intentions into reality; understanding best practice in planning for and management of safety. My interest in safety dates from my original investigations in building a safety program for my own business.
The WSCC has seven Values. Can you highlight one and explain why it is important to the WSCC?
All the values are important and they support one another but I'll highlight Engagement for the purposes of this question. It is far too easy, especially when managing a specialized monopoly service like the Workers' Compensation system, to forget that we are here to "serve" the public. It is tempting to dismiss stakeholder concerns with "they don't understand" or "it's always worked this way." It is our responsibility to communicate and make the case that we are adding value for our stakeholders.
What is your favourite part of being a GC member, and why?
The people. I've met great people at the WSCC, on the GC, and attending Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC) events. It's fun and rewarding to be around people that truly want to make a positive difference in the world.
Email GC Chair David Tucker.
The GC represents the interests of our stakeholders. They are essential in guiding the WSCC through the overall consideration of our policies, practices, and operations and how they affect our stakeholders. The GC members represent your interests.
Over the next several issues, we will introduce you to each of our Governance Council members. Until then, learn more about the Governance Council by visiting our website.
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REPORT UNSAFE WORK
IF YOU WITNESS IT, REPORT IT
Did you know that workplace harassment represents 1 in 10 of all reported incidents of unsafe work at the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission?
Workplace bullying and harassment IS a health and safety issue. All employees have the right to work in a safe environment, which means that harassment and bullying is never acceptable. As with any instance of workplace safety, you should report any unsafe work that you witness.
Below are steps to report workplace harassment:
- Prevention is always the best method. Before it becomes workplace harassment, work with your staff to peacefully resolve potential issues where workers may start feel uncomfortable. Employee training in effective communication and working in diverse environments is essential in eliminating workplace harassment.
If you do experience or witness workplace harassment:
- Take detailed notes of what you saw, and when you saw it. This is particularly important when the harassment is reoccurring. Try to focus on facts: time, date, the name of individuals involved and witnesses, as well as comments and/or actions.
- Report what you see to your supervisor, or your office OHS representative. It is important to note that if the person being accused of harassment is your direct supervisor, or reports directly to your supervisor, you should find an alternate person in your workplace to report the incident to. Do not report the incident to just anyone; your company's policy should outline who you should report to in this instance.
- Follow your company's policy and procedure on workplace harassment. All workplaces should have a policy to address workplace harassment. Note that the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations require a harassment policy for all employers, but only require a violence policy for workplaces where violence is reasonably expected to occur (Section 35(2)).
- Report the incident on WSCC Connect. It is important for the WSCC to be aware of all incidents of workplace disease and injury, including workplace harassment.
You can find more detailed descriptions in our Safety Sheet on Bullying in the Workplace.
WSCC Connect and its Report Unsafe Work tool allows you to anonymously report all issues of workplace safety. From workplace harassment and violence to a worker without the correct PPE, this tool is integral to the Internal Responsibility System (IRS). If you observe unsafe work, report it.
Harassment and violence in the workplace are never acceptable, and often only recognized when they have escalated to a point that poses risk to workers. In our vision to eliminate workplace diseases and injury, we advocate for a culture of safety and emotional well-being for all employees.
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WSCC offices are closed from 5:00 PM on Friday, May 18 for the Victoria Day Long Weekend, and reopen on Tuesday, May 22 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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