Workplace fatalities declining in Britain • New award honours workplaces promoting good mental health • Alberta youth video contest • Inspectors focus on mines in Ontario
Workplace fatalities declining in Britain
LONDON — In 2009-2010, the number of workers killed on the job in Britain fell to 152, according to statistics published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), or a rate of 0.5 workers per 100,000. That’s down slightly from 179 in 2008-2009 (rate of 0.6 workers per 100,000) and significantly from 2006-2007 when 247 workers were killed (0.7 workers per 100,000.) Construction and agriculture were the two sectors that recorded the highest number of deaths at 42 and 38 respectively. The HSE, a government agency in the U.K., called the decrease in fatalities “statistically significant” compared to the average rate for the previous five years.
New award honours workplaces promoting good mental health
TORONTO — Workplaces that successfully tackle mental health issues could be taking home some hardware, starting next year. The National Quality Institute (NQI) and Great-West Life have announced a new award under their Canada Awards for Excellence Program that will honour organizations with outstanding workplace policies and programs for addressing mental health in the workplace. The award is being unveiled at a time that mental health is getting a lot of attention, mainly due to some eye-popping statistics: One in five Canadians will personally experience a mental illness during their lifetime, according to the Mental Health Commission of Canada. By 2020, depression will rank second only to heart disease as the leading cause of disability worldwide. Put in dollar figures, mental health disorders in the workplace hit the Canadian economy to the tune of $50 billion when indirect costs are taken into account, according to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
Youth video contest
CALGARY — Work Safe Alberta is sponsoring a student video competition to raise awareness about workplace safety among young workers. The first place winner will receive $1,000, $750 for second place and $500 for third place. Matching prizes are awarded to the high schools of the winning entries. In 2007, 19.4 per cent of all lost-time claims and 22.7 per cent of all disabling claims were from young workers aged 15-24, according to Alberta’s Worker’s Compensation Board. The contest is open to students in Grade 10 through 12 and the deadline for entering is Feb. 11, 2011. For more information visit www.employment.alberta.ca/whs-youngworkers.
Inspectors focus on mines in Ontario
TORONTO — Ontario is increasing enforcement of personal protection equipment in mining workplaces. Ministry of Labour inspectors will visit underground and surface mines in November to check on equipment worn by workers to protect them against hazards related to falls, worker visibility and atmospheric contaminants. The blitz will ensure safety gear is in good condition and being used correctly in order to prevent falls, collisions involving workers and vehicles and health-related hazards. The blitz is part of the government’s Safe At Work Ontario strategy to keep workplaces safe and productive.
LONDON — In 2009-2010, the number of workers killed on the job in Britain fell to 152, according to statistics published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), or a rate of 0.5 workers per 100,000. That’s down slightly from 179 in 2008-2009 (rate of 0.6 workers per 100,000) and significantly from 2006-2007 when 247 workers were killed (0.7 workers per 100,000.) Construction and agriculture were the two sectors that recorded the highest number of deaths at 42 and 38 respectively. The HSE, a government agency in the U.K., called the decrease in fatalities “statistically significant” compared to the average rate for the previous five years.
New award honours workplaces promoting good mental health
TORONTO — Workplaces that successfully tackle mental health issues could be taking home some hardware, starting next year. The National Quality Institute (NQI) and Great-West Life have announced a new award under their Canada Awards for Excellence Program that will honour organizations with outstanding workplace policies and programs for addressing mental health in the workplace. The award is being unveiled at a time that mental health is getting a lot of attention, mainly due to some eye-popping statistics: One in five Canadians will personally experience a mental illness during their lifetime, according to the Mental Health Commission of Canada. By 2020, depression will rank second only to heart disease as the leading cause of disability worldwide. Put in dollar figures, mental health disorders in the workplace hit the Canadian economy to the tune of $50 billion when indirect costs are taken into account, according to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
Youth video contest
CALGARY — Work Safe Alberta is sponsoring a student video competition to raise awareness about workplace safety among young workers. The first place winner will receive $1,000, $750 for second place and $500 for third place. Matching prizes are awarded to the high schools of the winning entries. In 2007, 19.4 per cent of all lost-time claims and 22.7 per cent of all disabling claims were from young workers aged 15-24, according to Alberta’s Worker’s Compensation Board. The contest is open to students in Grade 10 through 12 and the deadline for entering is Feb. 11, 2011. For more information visit www.employment.alberta.ca/whs-youngworkers.
Inspectors focus on mines in Ontario
TORONTO — Ontario is increasing enforcement of personal protection equipment in mining workplaces. Ministry of Labour inspectors will visit underground and surface mines in November to check on equipment worn by workers to protect them against hazards related to falls, worker visibility and atmospheric contaminants. The blitz will ensure safety gear is in good condition and being used correctly in order to prevent falls, collisions involving workers and vehicles and health-related hazards. The blitz is part of the government’s Safe At Work Ontario strategy to keep workplaces safe and productive.
