This has been a watershed year for the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). We have been cultivating relationships across the country with a large cross-section of industries, OSH organizations and institutions. We have leveraged these relationships into mutually beneficial collaborations that have expanded our product offerings, accessed new markets, and increased our recognition factor across Canada.
I take a look back with great pride in our success from all of our business units. We have had an extremely successful national Forum that highlighted our ability to draw together representatives from a cross-section of groups to dialogue on solutions that affect all Canadians. Collaborations with groups such as CARMHA, the Mental Health Commission of Canada, Carex Canada, NIDMAR, VuBiz, Institute on Gender and Health (IGH), ILO and High Point Wellness have resulted in new programs and products that have introduced CCOHS to new stakeholders and have increased the profile of the prevention of occupational injury and illness across all jurisdictions. We have also taken a leadership role in the communication of federal GHS legislation, mental health standards, and initiatives for vulnerable workers, and making OSH programs accessible to small and medium sized enterprises and remote regions.
But, my greatest sense of pride is reserved for our leadership team and staff for their dedication and ability to adapt to evolving internal changes and a constantly shifting external environment. It is our adaptive capacity and nimble decision-making that have come to define our organization and serve as the platform for all our successes.
My best wishes to everyone for a joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year.
It was our pleasure to host Israel Shreibman, Director of the Israel Institute for Occupational Safety and Hygiene (IIOSH), last week. Mr. Shriebman came to CCOHS to review our operations and to get an understanding of the challenges facing our organization and how we have been addressing them. At the same time, it was an opportunity for me to hear some of the unique solutions IIOSH have adopted for their workers – of particular interest during our discussions was our programs for agricultural and immigrant workers, and accessing small enterprises for training.
As unique as the Middle East may seem to us, the challenges in the occupational health and safety field are strikingly similar. So it is particularly beneficial to CCOHS to hear a different perspective on a common issue and learn of new ways to address them. As well, each organization has their own areas of expertise, and there was agreement to support each other’s initiatives, and to look for opportunities to collaborate on projects to avoid duplication.
Recently I had an opportunity to sit down with professor Obi Ejim, Vice Chancellor of Renaissance University in Nigeria, regarding the establishment of an undergraduate degree program and faculty in Occupational Health at the University. The needs in Nigeria, and Sub-Saharan Africa in general, are daunting, and CCOHS is proud to support such worthy initiatives that will have a positive future impact in the region. During our meeting, we established a collaborative memorandum of agreement with the University to support the establishment of a faculty committed to improving the working environment in their region.
And with the looming end to the summer and the imminent start of the new school year, our thoughts here at home also turn to students in pursuit of a post-secondary education in health and safety. Fortunately, there are many institutions across Canada which offer established, comprehensive occupational health and safety degree, diploma, and certificate programs, some of which are also available online.
To help students tap into CCOHS’ extensive network of information and resources throughout their studies and beyond graduation, we created a Student Membership program for full- and part-time students. CCOHS also offers a national scholarship, open to Canadian students pursuing a certificate, diploma, or degree in occupational health and safety. The Dick Martin Scholarship was established in 2002, and the annual deadline to apply is January 31. Listen to a podcast with two past winners.
CCOHS is committed to supporting the next generation of leaders in workplace health and safety.
We had a very productive and informative meeting of the CCOHS Council of Governors last week. Held at our offices here in Hamilton, it was our first meeting under our new Chair, Kin Choi. We also welcomed three new Council members, Shelly Dauphinee from New Brunswick, Bill Reid from PEI and Shelley Rowan from Nova Scotia. Regrettably, we also said goodbye to three of our long-standing, devoted members: Jean Dalton from Arcelor Mittal; Stuart MacLean from Nova Scotia; and, Nancy Hutchinson from the OFL, who each served two terms on our Council. Their contributions to the success of our organization are greatly appreciated, and they will be sorely missed.
The meeting is as much an occasion for CCOHS to “put its best foot forward” and showcase our organization’s accomplishments, as it is to discuss our challenges moving forward. It is an opportunity to look outwards and talk about our future and share our visions within a forum of differing perspectives, but common goals.
It is also our opportunity to listen: to understand the changes that the provinces, industry and labour are undertaking and how they will shape our environment. I believe CCOHS’s role is to turn their challenges to our opportunities.
There were also a number of positive initiatives in the provinces and sharing of best practices during roundtable discussions that will benefit all.
CCOHS is fortunate to have such a reservoir of knowledge to draw from and I am confident our organization’s future is bright.
Recovering from a lunchtime walk outside, it occurred to me that many of us are not adjusting our daily routines in consideration of some of the extremely hot, humid weather this summer. Heat stress can have a severe impact on people’s health, particularly when we consider factors of underlying medical issues, obesity, age and level of physical fitness.
We are determined to maintain our work routines and daily schedules without stopping to consider the impact extremes in the physical environment are having on our bodies. In the hot summer climate we should all consciously be thinking about staying hydrated and taking periodic breaks from the heat throughout the day – waiting until you are thirsty or until your next scheduled break is usually too late. This heat requires the body to increase its physiological activity to maintain your normal body temperature. Consequently, we should be maintaining a constant hydration level so the body does not have to compensate for large swings in fluid levels (consider two marathon runners; one who takes in water at regular intervals throughout the race, and another who drinks an equivalent total only at the end of the race).
Periodic rest and intake of fluids are a necessity to avoid heat stress, particularly for those working outdoors. It is imperative that we all familiarize ourselves with the early signs of heat stress so we can support our fellow employees and avoid potentially hazardous situations.
I encourage you to review the CCOHS resources below about the health effects of excessive heat.
Dr. Abeytunga, 8th from the right, at the APEX Awards Ceremony at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, on May 28.
On Monday night, I was pleased to represent CCOHS at the awards gala hosted by the Association of Professional Executives of the Public Service of Canada (APEX). The APEX award is the highest honour bestowed upon an executive of the federal public service in recognition of outstanding contribution to Canada. It was with great pride that I watched APEX recognize our own Dr. Abeytunga with an APEX award for career contribution. It was particularly heartening because it was not about a single success, but instead acknowledged his 32 years of contribution both nationally and internationally to the advancement of health and safety and to the growth of CCOHS as a global centre of excellence for the prevention of occupational injuries and illnesses. Congratulations, Abey! I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award.
I am very pleased to be helping launch NAOSH Week 2012 at Centennial College on Monday, May 7th with our health and safety partners. This marks 16 years that employers, workers and governments across North America have taken the time to promote the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace.
The theme of NAOSH week this year is “Making it Work”. It reminds us that we all need to not only plan, but act. We need to constantly create awareness of these issues throughout our daily routines at work, at home and in our communities, and it is forums such as this that make this possible.
Our successes in achieving the goals of NAOSH week will result in eliminating fatalities, injuries and diseases from the workplace.
I attended the “Day of Mourning” ceremony this past Sunday, April 29th. It was a solemn ceremony, with emotional speeches of loss and remembrance. What made this ceremony particularly poignant for me was that this is the 20th anniversary of the Westray Mine disaster that occurred on May 9, 1992 in Nova Scotia. 26 lives were lost in one of Canada’s great tragedies. It reminded me that, as well as those lost to these tragedies, this is also a day to remember the surviving family members who are still living with the pain of these tragic events, and to rededicate ourselves to the elimination of workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses.
The 26 miners that were killed at the Westray Mines were members of the Steelworkers’ Union, and Nancy Hutchinson, who is also a member of CCOHS’s Council of Governors, spoke on behalf of the USW in an emotional “call to action” to ensure these types of disasters do not occur again.
Repetitive strain injuries are a serious occupational health concern across the world and are recognized as leading causes of significant human suffering, loss of productivity and economic burdens on society. It not only affects physical health, but it can have an impact on the enjoyment of life and mental well-being. To help minimize the risks of any workplace injury, we need to constantly create awareness of these issues, be conscious of early warning signs of RSI and provide practical solutions.
The emerging nature of jobs moving towards knowledge-based industries and shifting demographics are requiring a heightened level of consciousness within businesses of these evolving RSI challenges. Early recognition and intervention is a direct result of increased awareness throughout an organization, and is the foundation of any successful prevention program.
Each year, the last day of February is reserved for International Strain Injury (RSI) Awareness Day, a day dedicated to RSI education and prevention. Today marks the 13th annual RSI Awareness day.
Repetitive strain injuries is an umbrella term to describe a family of painful disorders affecting tendons, muscles, nerves and joints in the neck, upper and lower back, chest, shoulders, arms and hands. These disorders can be caused by work activities that are frequent and repetitive and involve awkward postures.
A fundamental principle of occupational health and safety is that hazards are best eliminated at the source. Any of these preventive and control measures, in order to be truly effective, require effort and involvement on the part of management, workers, and their representatives. CCOHS offers a variety of resources, including fact sheets, podcasts, webinars, and e-courses to support these initiatives.
Historically, workplace health and safety programs and policies have addressed factors affecting the physical well-being and comfort of workers, without considering mental and psychosocial aspects. Now, a growing body of research, along with compensation data, shifting demographics and an ever widening shift from traditional to newer knowledge industries, serve as indications that we must pay the same attention and focus to our workers’ psychological health.
Employees who are engaged in their work are likely to be mentally and physically healthy, passionate, and emotionally committed to their work and to their organization. As well, statistics have shown that a positive work environment results in reduced rates of absenteeism, stress levels, injuries and illnesses, while showing increased rates of morale and job satisfaction.
According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, each year, about one in every five Canadians will experience a diagnosable mental health problem or illness. It is all pervasive, so when it comes to mental well-being, there is no us and them. We must look to prevention solutions that are both comprehensive and take an individual view as well – promoting a workplace strategy that: is for all ages; supports individuals at risk; intervenes early; considers lifestyle and social environment; and, assists all towards recovery.
Meeting the demands of a mentally healthy work environment requires a commitment and new capacities within an organization, and that is why total worker well-being is the focus of our upcoming Forum IV national conference in October. It’s an opportunity for participants to collaborate on integrated, comprehensive approaches to total health and wellness at work. There is a connection between the mental, physical, and psychosocial aspects of both the work and non-work environments. Key discussion areas will include mental health, psychosocial work factors and musculoskeletal disorders, harassment and bullying, and integrated workplace health and safety.
Here at CCOHS we recently shared the results of our employee engagement survey with our staff. Our overall emotional wellness score, calculated from our responses to questions concerning mental and physical energy, focus, self-worth, control, lifestyle, mood, and ability to function, put us in the top 20% of all organizations measured, and at the top of governmental and not-for-profit organizations. CCOHS scored high on its growing leadership strength, work/life balance, values, and positive physical working conditions.
We received a great score and positive feedback, but there is always room for improvement. Over the next few months, we’ll be forming action teams and putting forth recommendations for improvement. In fostering the group values of mental health and well-being in the workplace, we’ll also be celebrating our positive results and building on our strengths, while working towards a clear vision of the workplace experience that our employees want to see.
For anyone who is interested in doing a quick measure of their own wellness, there’s a free emotional wellness self assessment tool that you can take online.
