Mayor Harris: Fatalities And Serious Injuries In The Workplace - Preeceville's Main Street with the Mayor Garth Harris for Thursday December 5th 2019 8:35 am

Working Draft for:

Preeceville's Main Street with the Mayor Garth Harris for Thursday December 5th 2019 8:35 am

With GX94's Craig Wallebeck > see him @ http://www.gx94radio.com/craig-Wallebeck

This week we focus on: Fatalities And Serious Injuries In The Workplace

Introduction Of A New Strategy Looks To Reduce Fatalities And Serious Injuries In The Workplace

Released on December 2, 2019

“Today a new approach to preventing fatalities and serious workplace injuries that looks at high-risk industries and the tasks within those industries was introduced.

The three-year Fatalities and Serious Injuries Strategy is the product of WorkSafe Saskatchewan, which is a partnership between the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety.

“Safety needs to be a priority in every workplace and across all industries,” Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Don Morgan said. “Workplace injuries and fatalities are absolutely unacceptable and leave a devastating impact on loved ones. I’m pleased that we have been able to work together with a number of stakeholders to develop a strategy with concrete actions that will help to reduce the number of workplace fatalities and injuries.”

The strategy will focus on priority industries and occupations, where the greatest number of injures to workers are reported. Approximately 2,400 Saskatchewan workers are seriously injured each year and from 2010-2018 the WCB reported 354 fatalities for workers who died on, or as a result of their job.

The three-year strategy outlines targets to reducing the number of injuries and the actions that will be taken to achieve these numbers. The four injury priority areas are asbestos exposure, work related motor vehicle crashes, firefighter cancer exposure and falls from heights.

“Workplace safety is everyone’s responsibility and this strategy looks to build on the work that is already taking place to reduce serious injuries and fatalities,” WCB Board Chairperson Gord Dobrowolsky said. “If we are to be successful, we need to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders so workers go home safely each day.”

Copies of the full strategy are available at www.worksafesask.ca.”

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For more information, contact:

Jennifer Toews, Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, Regina
Phone: 306-787-1331 Email: jennifer.toews3@gov.sk.ca

Carolyn Van der Veen, Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board, Regina
Phone: 306-787-4386 Email: CVanderVeen@wcbsask.com

http://www.worksafesask.ca/

Foundational Pillars

Hazard Assessment

Evaluate job tasks to identify and control hazards.

Practices and Procedures

Develop safe work practices and procedures that give employees the information they need to do their jobs safely.

Training

Identify and provide the training employees need to do their jobs safely.

Inspections

Examine the workplace to identify and control hazards.

Investigations

After an incident, determine the root cause(s) and control hazards.

http://www.worksafesask.ca/prevention/serious-injuries-and-fatalities/

"WorkSafe Saskatchewan, the partnership between the Saskatchewan WCB and the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, has challenged its traditional approach to fatalities and serious injuries. This three-year strategy reflects the complexity of these issues.

No employer, worker, coworker or family member ever wants a fatality or serious injury to occur in the workplace, but it’s happening. From 2010 to 2018, the Saskatchewan WCB accepted 354 fatalities for Saskatchewan workers who died while on, or as a result of, their job. Based on a new WCB internal definition of a serious injury, data indicates that from 2010 to 2018, 22,594 workers suffered a serious injury, which often resulted in life-altering implications for the individual and their family."

Frequently asked questions

Read the Fatalities and Serious Injuries Strategy report

Executive summary

" No employer, worker, coworker or family member ever wants a fatality or serious injury to occur in the workplace, but it’s happening. From 2010 to 2018, the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) accepted 354 fatalities for Saskatchewan workers who died while on, or as a result of, their job. Based on a new WCB internal definition of a serious injury, data indicates that from 2010 to 2018, 22,594 workers suffered a serious injury, which often resulted in lifealtering implications for the individual and their family. Closer analysis of this data also indicates that although the time loss and total injury rates have seen a slow and steady decline, there are approximately 2,400 serious injuries annually and this key indicator has not been decreasing, but in fact has remained fairly flat. Despite the work already being done in various industries, it is clear there is a need to create more awareness, to gain a better understanding of the root causes of fatalities and serious injuries and to develop an action plan to reduce these preventable injuries and associated suffering. Preventing workplace fatalities and serious injuries is the indisputable goal of any safety endeavour, but too often the safety management system breaks down; employers and workers come up short in their leadership and joint responsibility roles; well-meaning safety managers approach fatality and serious injury prevention from widely varied perspectives; workers develop feelings of invincibility and the unthinkable occurs: someone dies or is seriously injured on the job. Despite more than a decade of improvement in the overall provincial total injury rate (TIR), a recent analysis indicates areas of concern. The current trend in work-related fatalities is increasing and the provincial TIR indicator is showing a levelling, or even an increase, in this overall performance metric. Simply put, it is time to review what we’ve done, where we are and determine a new course to continue the drive to Mission: Zero."

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Useful Links

Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board
http://www.wcbsask.com/

Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration
http://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/government-structure/ministries/advanced-education

Labour Relations and Workplace Safety
http://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/government-structure/ministries/labour-relations-and-workplace-safety

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
http://www.ccohs.ca

Government of Alberta – Employment and Immigration
http://www.hre.gov.ab.ca/

WorkSafe BC
http://www.worksafebc.com

Tourism & Hospitality Safety Calculator
http://smallbusiness.healthandsafetycentre.org

Work Safe Alberta
http://work.alberta.ca/occupational-health-safety/work-safe-alberta.html

Construction Safety Association of Ontario
http://www.csao.org/

The Electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety and Health
http://www.elcosh.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov

Health and Safety Executive
http://www.hse.gov.uk

Events:

Bingo 606 Harvard Preeceville Air Cadets Squadron Sponsoring Committee BINGO. Every Thursday at Club 60. Doors open at 7pm, first game starts at 8pm.

Preeceville & District Lions Club Chase the Ace - Minimum Jack-Pot is now at a $3,716.00

Draws every Thursday night at the Curling Rink.

Watch for their Ad's. Follow the ACE on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreecevilleChaseTheAce/

December 7th - Dance! 7:30 - 11:30 Hazel Dell Rec Centre - Admission $10:00

December 7th - Annual Christmas Craft Show - 10:00am till 3:00pm Community Legion Hall hosting by the Preeceville Library Board.

The Preeceville Walking Club has started again at the Preeceville Community Legion Hall. They walk Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week from 9:00am till 10:00 am. The Program runs till the end of April each year. Cost is $20.00 and everyone is welcome. Contact Jackie at 306-547-2842 for further information.