Monthly OHS News & Updates |
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Contents:
OHS News
AMHSA News
Alberta Labour & WCB Updates
Upcoming Training
Upcoming Events
ITF Update
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Occupational Health & Safety News |
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Psychological Health and Safety |
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"Psychological health and safety (PHS) should be important in all organizations. Changes in provincial and Federal OHS legislation around psychological health and safety, workplace violence and harassment, human rights and tort law are requiring employers to become increasingly responsible for protecting employees’ psychological health and safety." -- Dr. Bill Howatt, Troy Winters, and Craig Hrynchuk, Implementing a PHSMS goes a long way in addressing workplace mental health, Talent Canada
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The Mental Health Commission of Canada reports that 30% to 70% of all disability claims are attributed to mental illness, and every week 500,000 Canadians are unable to work due to mental health problems or illnesses. In Alberta, WCB-Alberta claims data shows that mental health disorders were the second most common diseases in 2013-2017 and comprised 30% of the top 20 claims when sorted by claim cost. On average, recovery from psychological injury claims takes nearly two and a half times longer compared with the overall average for all lost-time injuries.
Does your health and safety management system include mental health? Start your journey towards psychological health and safety today!
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Psychological Health & Safety Facilitator Certification |
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Psychological Health IMPACT Group |
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AMHSA's Psychological Health and Safety Facilitators Certification program can help you learn how to integrate psychological health and safety into your existing health and safety management system. Our courses provide professionals with core competencies and skills to aid in selecting, implementing, evaluating and managing PHS within their workplace.
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Optimize your employee experience through an impactful psychological health and safety program.
The IMPACT groups are designed for municipalities at any level of readiness, who are interested in building, promoting, or enhancing psychological health and safety in their workplace.
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Psychologically Safe Workplace Awards |
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The Psychologically Safe Workplace Awards are far more than a competition – they provide leaders with credible data and insights to make a real difference. Show you care, get actionable data, attract and retain talent, and give your employees the resources they need to help maintain their mental health.
Click here to learn more about the award program and resources.
The Psychologically Safe Workplace Awards are presented by:
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The Working Mind Employee & Manager |
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The Working Mind is an evidence-based program developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada and is designed to address and promote mental health and reduce the stigma of mental illness in a workplace setting.
Employees & Managers who take TWM training have shown an increase in resiliency skills, a decrease in stigmatizing attitudes, and an increase in mental health wellbeing.
Course content includes: a focus on dispelling the myths of mental health problems, self-awareness of one’s own mental health, strategies one can apply at each point along the continuum, how to observe changes in employees along the continuum, and tips on communicating with employees about mental health.
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Did you know? AMHSA, through its participation on the Industry Task Force (ITF) Association Executive, sits as an Employer Representative on the WCB-Alberta Policy Consultation Advisory Group (PCAG).
The PCAG works with the WCB-Alberta Board of Directors to provides input and advice on policy priorities for the year.
Municipal stakeholders can provide feedback directly to WCB-Alberta via the below links. Stakeholders are also invited to provide AMHSA with specific feedback so that we have a solid understanding of municipal stakeholder views.
Policies soon to be reviewed:
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Employers now have access to a PDF file of their Certificate of Recognition!
Employers can access and print their own COR through their myWCB account with the Workers’ Compensation Board – Alberta. (This is the same location where you can print your Partnerships in Injury Reduction reports.)
To download or print your COR, just log into your myWCB account and click on “Reports and Invoices”.
This new service significantly decreases red tape and increases efficiency by reducing turnaround time for a COR to reach its employer. As soon as your COR is approved, you can access it. For help with your myWCB account, please email ebusiness.support@wcb.ab.ca.
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2022 External Peer Audits |
Remember to contact Shannon Thomas by June 1st to arrange for a fall external COR Certification peer audit.
Include the following details: month for audit to be conducted, scope (number of employees and permanent worksites), and names of certified auditors available to conduct peer audits at another municipality.
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Terri Filipski Memorial Scholarship Giveaway |
Click here for more information or to enter. The prize winner will be announced at the Alberta Cities Safety Council Meeting on June 7, 2022.
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MSIs are one of the most common injury types experienced by employees. Register for one or all of our free webinars, presented by our partners at EWI Works, or visit our Injury Reduction website for resources.
AMHSA is currently scheduling the remaining topics for 2022’s Ergonomics Coaching sessions. If you have previous topics you’d like to revisit, or new ones you’d like to see, let us know!
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Our mission is to develop a forum community that empowers Alberta municipal OHS, HR, and audit professionals (or equivalent) to grow their networks, spark discussion, and support the sharing of resources, knowledge, and experience.
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Alberta Labour & WCB Updates |
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OHS eNews for March is now available, and includes links to new bulletins, information on daylight savings and fatigue, details on paperless CORs, occupational spirometry testing, and WCB coverage for COVID-19 infections.
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This edition includes information on filing deadlines, COVID-19 support for work-related illness, and updated resources.
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International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Training - 45001:2018 Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Management Systems |
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AMHSA is pleased to announce it has scheduled the following ISO 45001 training for virtual delivery in the first quarter of 2022:
Our instructor will once again be Joseph Gadol, from SGS Academy. All classes will begin at 8:00 am and webcam and microphone are required to participate. Please contact shannon@amhsa.net for details or to register.
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Psychological Health & Safety |
Register now and use code 50MNPHS for $50 off your registration.
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The Working Mind (TWM) is an evidence-based program designed to promote mental health and reduce the stigma around mental illness in the workplace.
TWM for employees offers practical knowledge to increase participants’ overall comfort level with mental illness.
Managers, supervisors, and team leads have a special role in any organization. Building on TWM for employees, the TWM managers course gives participants the practical knowledge to support their employees' mental health and well-being.
TWMFR is evidence-based training designed to promote mental health and reduce the stigma around mental illness in the workplace.
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Alberta Water & Wastewater Operators Association Seminar |
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Dates: March 14-18, 2022
Location: Banff
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Alberta Municipal Supervisors Association Spring Convention |
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Dates: March 15-16, 2022
Location: Edmonton - to be confirmed
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Better Workplace Conference 2022 |
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Join the Canada-wide conversation to improve organizational culture and employee wellbeing and safety. For over two decades, the Better Workplace Conference has hosted a national conversation on creating a safe and healthy workplace. This April, we’re bringing together thought leaders, researchers, and you, industry experts, for an important, evidence-based discussion on workplace wellbeing in 2022.
This event will be a virtual conference experience with engaging sessions that blend The Conference Board of Canada’s trusted research with inspirational stories and conversations. This is your chance to expand your network, gain insights, and access practical tools to improve your organization’s culture.
The Better Workplace Conference will run from April 5-7, 2022. The three day event will focus on: Reimagining the Better Workplace, Workplace Health and Wellness Disrupters, The Way Forward: Toward a Healthy Workplace Culture.
For more information or to register, click here and u se the discount code PRIMA to register for $150.00 (full rate is $295!).
Dates: April 5-7, 2022
Location: Virtual
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Upcoming Safety Council Meetings |
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AMHSA's safety councils include the Alberta Cities Safety Council (ACSC), Northern Alberta Safety Council (NASC) and Southern Alberta Safety Council (SASC). Meetings are held several times a year and open to all municipal members. Agendas include updates from Alberta Labour, WCB-Alberta, and AMHSA, as well as an educational session or guest speaker. Participants share recent highlights from their municipality including significant incidents, lost time claims, trends, projects, challenges and new initiatives, innovations, upcoming events, audits, etc.
Joint Northern Alberta Safety Council (NASC) and Southern Alberta Safety Council (SASC) Meeting
Date: April 5, 2022
Location: Virtual
Alberta Cities Safety Council (ACSC) Meeting
Date: June 7, 2022
Location: TBD
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Alberta Health & Safety Conference |
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Dates: May 5-6, 2022
Location: NAIT Productivity & Innovation Centre, Edmonton, Alberta
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Industry Task Force (ITF) Association Update |
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- Government Engagement
- Transition of the Accident Fund to AIMCo
- Bill 47 Implementation Stakeholder Group
- Psychological Injury Working Group
- WCB Policy Development/Consultation
- Policy Consultation Advisory Committee
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Your partner in Alberta OHS education for the past 30 years!
Vision: To be the recognized leader of municipal safety excellence and an innovative provider of education programs
We post updates on our courses, etc., on Facebook and LinkedIn.
If you would like to receive updates, please follow us!
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Disclaimer: Please note, that while we do invite submissions, use of sent items is at the discretion of AMHSA. We are under no obligation to review, consider, publish, develop, provide compensation, or otherwise use the submission. You also agree that your submission in no way violates any copyright, trademark, or trade name; or the rights of any third party, including individuals, and is not otherwise unlawful. If you want to unsubscribe, please follow the links below.
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