As well as attending sessions on establishing national standards at CSA‘s annual conference and committee week, I had the pleasant opportunity to sit down over dinner on Sunday night with the two co-chairs of the technical committee on Mental Health in the Workplace, the committee establishing the national mental health standards that we have all been discussing.
Mary Anne Baynton and Roger Bertrand were engaging and had a lot of insights into the process and goals of the new psychological health standards. We shared a common vision, and there was commitment to address all the issues on this complex topic. CCOHS can certainly have an active role in promoting the standards as well as the “Guarding Minds at Work” online assessment tool to help organizations implement a healthy workplace program.
I also had an opportunity on Monday to sit down with Bonnie Rose, President of CSA, to discuss mutual interests and areas for collaboration between CCOHS and CSA. Our goals are complementary and we can develop synergies between us by working together.
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.
April 28th has been designated as the “National Day of Mourning” in Canada. Since its recognition as an annual day of remembrance in 1985 by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), and then becoming an official National observance by the passing of the Workers Mourning Day Act on 1991 by the federal government of Canada, April 28th has been a day of remembrance for those killed or injured on the job and a time of renewal of our commitment to accident and illness prevention.
It is a call to action – it is not only an opportunity to recognize and honour those that have been killed or injured on the job, but also to highlight the preventable nature of workplace accidents and occupational illnesses. It’s an opportunity to re-dedicate ourselves to the prevention of injury and illness and the active encouragement for all workplaces to adopt safety standards and programs to ensure that, at the end of every day, every worker returns home safe and healthy.
I hope everyone will take a moment on this solemn day to think of their fellow workers and consider how you can contribute to creating a workplace and community that is safe and supportive for all.
Hola amigos and amigas from the 30th International Congress on Occupational Health in Mexico.
The agenda over the last few days has been hectic. Psychosocial issues have been a particularly significant topic of discussion from all areas of the world. Non-communicable diseases and integrating health care delivery with occupational health were also major topics of discussion.
I was asked to present the discussions and conclusions of a round table discussion on knowledge transfer and increasing the effectiveness of occupational health communication. It was a discussion I found fascinating because it defined in my mind the problem and galvanized the issues for me – although I do not believe all saw it from my perspective.
I noted in my presentation that while we discussed the merits and limitations of the Internet as a delivery vehicle, we were behaving a lot like the Web. Free flowing ideas going not only in two directions, but in a number of directions: creating a form of network of open dialogue.
Today’s workers are turning to the Internet for information, and it is incumbent on occupational health and safety professionals everywhere to reach out directly to workers and engage them in a dialogue about their needs. For the first time, the Internet and social media tools have allowed us to hear directly what the workforce needs. What they are looking for is information that is credible, understandable, relevant and unbiased. I believe the organizations that best tap into that resource will be the most effective in instilling change and creating healthy workplaces.
There are those that still see the professional’s role as evaluating data and collating it in a format that can be delivered through a network of other professionals. It is about building competencies in communities. At a local level it is an effective educational tool, but that is not where CCOHS will thrive. We must harness the global power of the Web and make a difference in workers’ lives wherever they may be.
Performance of Mayan music and folk dance
Last night our Mexican organizers hosted a cultural night. It began with a presentation by a local historian about the history of the Mayan civilization. That was followed by a performance of Mayan music and folk dance. A good time was had by all.
Sunday early afternoon before the start of the ICOH Congress, I had a meeting with the Chairman and Founder of the SOS Foundation, Arnaud Vaissie, and a couple of his senior staff. We discussed the issue of “duty of care” for an employer and the establishment of global guidelines in the area. We explored areas of collaboration and how we could move the initiative forward.
There was a panel discussion of experts convened on Monday evening to discuss the issue from various perspectives and consider solutions. CCOHS was well represented on the panel by our Dr. P.K. Abeytunga. Other members of the panel included (from left to right in the photo) the heads of ISSA, IOHA, NIOSH, past President of Finnish Institute, CCOHS, ICOH, and SOS Foundation.
Even prior to the kick-off of the WHO Collaborating Centres meetings, there was a flurry of activity that had a critical impact on CCOHS’ key initiative on vulnerable workers. Early intervention, open and supportive dialogue with WHO and suppport from our friends at NIOSH like Marilynn Fingerhut and John Howard were key in securing a resolution that saw our “Vulnerable Workers” program back on the agenda and which will, I am conviced, now flourish and make a significant impact nationally and globally on the health of young, immigrant and aging workers as well as women and those working in the informal economy.
The WHO has been going through challenging times due to the economic realities faced by member countries. Consequently, the WHO has been re-organizing and has had to focus on its key global priorities, in order to ensure that programs are completed to their established timelines. We’re pleased that our multilingual “Vulnerable Workers” Web portal project and NIOSH’s program on green industries and Nanotechnology were moved forward on the agenda, as Knowledge Network initiatives in conjunction with the WHO global priorities.
Now with the start of the Collaborating Centres Network meetings, there has been vigourous discussion and healthy consensus building leading to mutual understanding and resulting in effective promotion of healthy workplaces for all.
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.
