Explore the Role of Leadership

Add your voice to the discussion at Forum III

There's still time to register for CCOHS' Forum III, taking place March 8 and 9 in the National Capital Region.

This national event provides a platform for perspectives from Canadian, provincial and territorial governments, employers, labour organizations and subject experts to be represented. Forum III brings together their collective experience around effective leadership and the role it plays in creating healthy workplaces.

Don't miss your opportunity to hear experts speak on the following topics:

• Leading @ the Speed of Change - Jim Clemmer, bestselling author and international improvement leader
• Leadership Within the System - Dr. Julian Barling, Professor of Organizational Behavior and Psychology in the Queen's School of Business.
• Employer and Labour Perspectives on Leadership and Responsibility - Cathy Walker, Former National Health and Safety Director of the Canadian Auto Workers Union and Frank Saunders, Vice President Nuclear Oversight and Regulatory Affairs, Bruce Power.
• Implementing Successful Participatory Ergonomic Programs: Opportunities and Challenges - Dr. Nancy Theberge, Professor in the Departments of Kinesiology and Sociology at the University of Waterloo.
• Towards a National Prevention Strategy for Workplace Violence in Canada - Glenn, French, President of the Canadian Initiative on Workplace Violence and Anthony Pizzino, National Director of Research, Job Evaluation and Health and Safety for the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
• Four Generations - Four Approaches to Work: Enhancing Training & Coaching for All - Giselle Kovary, Managing partner and co-founder of n-gen People Performance Inc.

Learn more about the Forum III program and register

Relieve the Tension at Work

Make it a point to stretch

Workers who sit most of the day at a desk often complain about being stiff and sore. It actually takes effort for the body to maintain one position for a long time.

"Don't forget to take frequent short breaks," advises Andrew Drewczynski, CCOHS ergonomist. "Aim for five minutes rest every 60 minutes. Find other tasks to do that don't involve sitting at your computer, or use that time to stretch."

Remind your workers about the importance of stretching with CCOHS' newest poster, Tension Relief: It's a Stretch. Display copies throughout your workplace to encourage your employees to take stretch breaks. The poster features five exercises that workers can do while seated in their chairs. In the long run, taking these small breaks will add to your productivity, rather than detract from it.

All CCOHS posters are double-sided, with English on one side and French on the other. They are available as free PDF downloads, or for purchase as glossy 16"X 25" prints.

View and get the poster

Violence in the Workplace Resources

Understand the importance of this workplace issue

The Ontario Legislature has passed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) to help protect workers against workplace violence and harassment. It applies to all Ontario workplaces currently covered by OSHA.

Employers will be required to:

• develop and communicate workplace violence and harassment prevention policies and programs to workers;
• assess the risks of workplace violence, and take reasonable precautions to protect workers from possible domestic violence in the workplace; and
• allow workers to remove themselves from harmful situations if they have reason to believe that they are at risk of imminent danger due to workplace violence.

The legislation not only enhances protections against workplace violence, but also addresses workplace harassment. It will go into effect six months after Royal Assent.

CCOHS offers practical tools to help your organization with workplace violence prevention:

• Violence in the Workplace e-Courses - raise awareness (free), establish a prevention program, and learn to recognize the risk and take action, in this series of online courses
• Violence in the Workplace Prevention Guide - an essential resource for anyone who needs to learn about workplace violence and prevention
• Canadian enviroOSH Legislation plus Standards - the new amendments are included in this service along with all the OH&S legislation you need in one convenient location
• Inquiries Service - a confidential one-on-one service that provides reliable and comprehensive assistance with your workplace violence questions and other health and safety concerns

More resources for a healthy workplace

Make a Date to Learn

Register for a CCOHS classroom course

Prevent injuries and foster a safety culture at your workplace. Enroll in a CCOHS classroom course to better understand your health and safety responsibilities as a manager or supervisor - and earn continuing education credits.

Plus, supplement your classroom learning with our comprehensive selection of health and safety e-courses.

Special Offer: Register for a classroom course and receive free access to any e-course of your choice - a value of up to $250.

Health & Safety for Managers & Supervisors

Get the information you need to help prevent injuries and foster a safety culture at your workplace. The intensive two-day course covers risk management, emergency preparedness, ergonomics, accident investigation and other health and safety topics.

Hamilton, ON - March 1 - 2; June 7 - 8; September 13 - 14; December 6 - 7
Edmonton, AB - March 9 - 10
Calgary, AB - May 4 - 5
Vancouver, BC - January 27 - 28

Learn more and register

Health & Safety for Managers & Supervisors in the Canadian Federal Jurisdiction

Understand your responsibilities under Part II of the Canada Labour Code. This one-day course will introduce you to the basic requirements of the Code and how it is applied - a must for any manager or supervisor in the government or a federally regulated business.

Hamilton, ON - June 14; November 29
Ottawa, ON - March 22; September 20
Saskatoon, SK - June 8
Edmonton, AB - February 23
Calgary, AB - May 18
Vancouver, BC - April 27

Learn more and register

Become a Member and Save

Join the CCOHS Membership Program

Strengthen your workplace health and safety activities by enrolling in CCOHS' Annual Membership Program.

Among other benefits, you'll get exclusive access to preferred rates on all CCOHS products and services to help support your efforts in achieving excellence in all aspects of your health and safety initiatives.

Choose from four different membership levels to suit your organization's needs. Become a Platinum-level member and you'll receive a special announcement in Liaison - tell the world that your organization cares deeply about the health and safety of its workers.

Learn more about the Annual Membership Program

Use Twitter to Improve Health and Safety

Put these five quick tips in action

In the world of social media, 2009 belonged to Twitter. The micro-blogging website soared to mainstream prominence, with millions of new users and plenty of media attention. Many organizations also realized the potential value of the tool in engaging with their audience, developing their brand and conducting industry research.

If you've recently joined Twitter or are thinking about it, here are some quick tips on how to use it to enhance safety at your organization:

1. Make a good impression. Fill out your profile completely, add a photo or company logo, and customize the look of your profile page. Also remember, that presentation counts. Watch your grammar and spelling, and double check any links that you include in your tweets. And remember, that tweets, once sent, are in the public domain - always think before you tweet. If you want to be taken seriously, you must treat the platform seriously.
2. Learn from the experts. Follow health and safety organizations on Twitter to get their tweets on workplace health and safety news and developments. Start by checking Twitter lists, such as those by NIOSH and Tom Flemming. Twitter directories like WeFollow and GovTwit (for government accounts on Twitter) are also useful resources.
3. Stay in the loop. Search for workplace health and safety information that's critical to your organization. Twitter has an easy-to-use search tool that displays all the relevant tweets as they happen.
4. Ask questions. One of the great features about Twitter is that it's a two-way channel. Engage in dialogue with your followers and with those you follow. Ask your followers for an opinion on a health and safety initiative you're considering by sending a tweet, or if you want insight from a particular person or organization, send an @message (place an @ sign in front of their user name, followed by your question). Most Twitter users will be happy to reply.
5. Keep the momentum. Many people join Twitter and never come back. Don't rush to build up your network. It's not about the number of followers, at least not at first. Get comfortable using Twitter, explore the possibilities, and learn from others. Once you establish a presence, think about integrating Twitter with your other communications tools (such as your newsletters and websites) to further enhance your health and safety efforts.

Follow CCOHS on Twitter

Take our Survey and Win

Help us Improve Liaison

We would like to hear what you have to say about Liaison. Take our reader survey and tell us what you like, and what you don't. How can we make the newsletter more useful for you and your organization?

In exchange for your feedback, you'll be entered to win a CCOHS e-course of your choice (a $100 value).

Take our short survey by February 26 in order to be eligible to win.

Forget Them Not

Remembering lives lost or injured in the workplace

Every April 28 on the National Day of Mourning, people around the world remember and pay respect to those who have lost their lives or been injured in the workplace.

Wear your support for this National Day with a Day of Mourning commemorative pin. Or, display our free poster at your workplace. You can also order additional copies at a nominal cost. To ensure that you receive your materials in time, please place orders by March 31.

Order pins | Get poster

Learn more about the National Day of Mourning