Municipal Safety News - June 2021
Summary of what you can find in this quarterly newsletter!
  • Maintaining Mental Fitness - Season 2 is here!!
  • Online Orientations - register to learn more!
  • Upcoming AMHSA Forums Q&A sessions
  • Ergonomics Coaching Sessions and free online training
  • The Working Mind for Employee and Manager
  • Upcoming training available
  • The Paperless Solution for a Mobile Workforce
  • ISO:45001 Training
  • Injury Reduction Campaigns
  • Industry Task Force Update
  • Learning Management System
  • Alberta Labour & WCB Updates
  • WCB Disability Management Program - new sessions
  • Municipal Job Postings
  • Parachute National Injury Prevention Day
Maintaining Mental Fitness - Season 2 is up & running!
Back by popular demand! AMHSA, AUMA, and Howatt HR have once again partnered to offer free bi-weekly webinars on Maintaining Mental Fitness.

Our next one is on Tuesday, June 8 at 10 am MST or 12 EST. The topic will be "Tips for Taming Negative Emotion." To sign up for this webinar, please click here. This link will also enable you to sign up for our future webinars as well.


Our past two sessions - May 11 and May 25 - can be viewed on demand on our website under the header "Previous Season 2 episodes." They will be available until December 31.

Each webinar is hosted by Dr. Bill Howatt and his team with a 15-minute overview of a key micro-skill to help you charge your mental health battery. There will be a 10-15 minute Q&A after the presentation so come with questions for Dr. Howatt!

AMHSA would like to thank our many sponsors for supporting us! If you are interested in being a sponsor of Maintaining Mental Fitness, for more information and who to contact, please view our website.

Online Orientations - June 16
Did you know that municipal workers are 400% more likely to be injured in the first four months of a job? AMHSA can help you to reduce this statistic and work towards a safer environment.

AMHSA is offering guidance to help you develop orientation packages for employees, contracting employers (previously called contractors), visitors, and volunteers. This project can be used in conjunction with BIS' instruction on development of simple online courses, templates for health and safety orientations in-house, orientations, and help you with the continuous improvement on your health and safety program.

To learn more about this, AMHSA is offering an online instruction webinar on June 16 from 10 am -12 noon MST. Register here.
Upcoming AMHSA Forum Q&A Sessions
AMHSA currently offers a Safety Advisor email list for members to ask questions and receive responses and ideas from their peers. As this current system does not allow for cataloguing, easy searching, or a record of older emails, AMHSA plans to provide you with a better experience in a brand-new forum experience.

What can you expect with this new forum?
  • Membership by request only
  • Category tagging and search options
  • Active moderation by AMHSA staff
  • Potential for additional forums, such as disability managers, HR, etc.

Want to hear more or get involved? We'd love your feedback on:
  • Features and layout
  • Membership requirements and guidelines
  • Applicable topics and categories
  • Moderation levels

Join us to learn more with our upcoming introduction and Q&A sessions via Zoom. We are offering the following sessions:
Ergonomic Coaching Sessions & Free Online Learning
AMHSA is offering a few free eLearnings and resources on ergonomics and how to prevent MSI while your employees are working from home or transitioning to the office.

Ergonomics Coaching Sessions

There are 7 more monthly ergonomics coaching sessions scheduled until the end of the year! Take advantage of these free 90-minute sessions by registering for one that works with your calendar. Just click on the date to register.


In support of these sessions and to assist you in implementing a safety initiative at your workplace, you can view our available resources such as toolbox talks, posters, tent cards, etc., by visiting our website.
Online Office Ergonomics Course and Self-Adjusting Tool

Don't forget that AMHSA is also offering a free online Office Ergonomics Course and a Self-Adjusting Tool until July 31.

This synergistic combination enables the trained user to correctly adjust their workstation and identifies whether there is a need for a professional assessment. This proactive and educational approach promotes efficient use of resources and identifies potential issues before discomfort develops.

You can register for these courses, by clicking here.
WCB Disability Management Program
WCB continues to offer online seminars in effective disability management to reduce human and financial costs associated with an injury.

If you are interested in attending a seminar to learn more, WCB is offering two on the following dates:
June 16
June 24

To register for either of these courses, email [email protected] and indicate your preferred date.
Upcoming Training
We are offering the following upcoming courses!

  • WHMIS 2015 Train-the-Trainer - June 10

  • Joint Work Site Health & Safety Committee/ Health & Safety Rep - June 14

  • Flagperson Train-the-Trainer - June 17

  • Incident Investigation - June 28

To register for these classes, please call 1-800-267-9764
AMHSA Can Help you to Implement an Injury Reduction Campaign
AMHSA and its partner Devco offer can help your municipality to build and implement an injury reduction campaign to make your workplace safer.

Our three campaigns we have been offering focus on the following:

  • Winter Ready - addressing slips, trips, and falls and all those hazards associated with winter.
  • Musculoskeletal injury prevention
  • Line of Fire Safety

There are many resources available on our website as well as posters, tent cards, and other campaign material to make the program a success!

To see more information about these programs, please visit our website and contact AMHSA at 1-800-267-9764 with any questions.
An Enterprise-Level Learning Management Solution
AMHSA can provide you with a way to utilize a robust learning management system to build, host, and deliver your own online courses, tests, and surveys through our secure course player and exam engine.

To learn more about what AMHSA can do to make your job easier, please visit our website or contact Rick Northrop via email or call 1-800-267-9764.
The Working Mind for Employee and Manager


AMHSA is pleased to announce Fall 2021 offerings of the Working Mind virtual training.


The Working Mind Employee - September 8 (member pricing: $150+GST; non-member pricing: $175+GST). This course offers practical knowledge to increase participants' overall comfort level with mental illness. On completing the course, employees will be able to understand mental health and mental illness, recognize its signs and indicators (in themselves and others), reduce stigma and negative attitudes toward people with mental health problems, support colleagues with mental health problems, and maintain their own mental health and improve their resilience.

Click here to register online for this session or call 1-800-267-9764.

The Working Mind Manager - September 9 (member pricing: $150+GST; non-member pricing: $175+GST). As a manager, you have a special role in your organization. Building on TWM Employee, this course gives participants the practical knowledge they need to support their employees' mental health and well-being, enable all employees to be more fully productive. ensure the workplace climate respects and involves all employees (including those with mental health problems), and encourage employees to seek help for mental problems

Click here to register online for this session or call 1-800-267-9764.

  • Participants require webcam, speakers, microphone.
ISO:45001 Training


AMHSA is hosting the following ISO:45001 training by virtual webinars through SGS Academy that is open to members and non-members:

  • Understanding the Requirements Training (Day 1 and 2): September 30 - October 1 - 8am - 4 pm MST - Cost is $480+gst per person

  • Internal Auditor Training (Day 3): October 12 - 8am - 4pm MST - Cost is $240+gst per person

  • Lead Auditor Training: October 13 - 8am - 4 pm MST - Cost is $240+gst per person

Please note that a webcam and microphone are required to participate. Upon completion of the courses, certificates will be issued by SGS, the accredited registrar and training provider.
 
For more details, please visit our website and/or contact Shannon Thomas.
Industry Task Force (ITF) Association Update
The Industry Task Force published its recent May update that covers the following topics:

  • Appeals Commission Update
  • Joint OHS/WCB Reporting Project
  • Policy Consultation on Legislative Changes
  • Notice-Only Claims and CAPS Processes
  • Psychological Injury Working Group

To view this recent newsletter, click here. For past ITF newsletters, please visit our website.
Alberta Labour & WCB Updates
Alberta Labour

Read the latest OHS news on Alberta Labour's Website.

Workers' Compensation Board - Alberta - Updates
Read about the most recent information WCB's Website.
Municipal Job Postings
If you know of someone who is looking for a health and safety positions, please refer them to our our Municipality Job Postings webpage.

If your municipality would like AMHSA to post a job opportunity, please contact Terri.
Parachute's National Injury Prevention Day
On Monday, July 5, Parachute will celebrate its 5th National Injury Prevention Day (NIPD) in Canada. Injury prevention is critical to saving lives. Unintentional injury is the No. 1 cause of death of Canadians 1-34 and costs Canada's economy $27 billion a year.

This year, municipalities across the nation will show support for NIPD by lighting major landmarks in their distinctive "parachute green" on July 5. Look for the following landmarks In Alberta to be lit up:

Calgary Tower, Calgary
Telus Sparks, Calgary
Olympic Plaza, Calgary
Red Deer City Hall, Red Deer
Lethbridge City Hall, Lethbridge
Hub Mall, University of Alberta, Edmonton
Grand Prairie Sun Dial, Grand Prairie

If your municipality is interested in "lighting up" a landmark, please contact NIPD at 657-776-5100 (or toll-free 1-888-776-7777).

AMHSA's goal is to promote and educate our municipality members on occupational injury/illness prevention. We know that most injuries are predictable and preventable. We need your help to spread the information on preventing serious injuries on the road, at home, and at play.

Visit NIPD's website for more information and to see their gallery of last year's "safety green" across Canada. Even the Niagara Falls are lit up!

#parachuteNIPD
#turnsafetyon
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