Handle Hazards & Heights

Learn about workplace hazards and working at heights in new e-courses

Hazard Identification, Assessment and Control

Hazard identification. Risk assessment. Hazard control strategies. Three key elements of every health and safety program, now detailed in one new online course from CCOHS. Hazard Identification, Assessment and Control will help employers, managers and members of health and safety committees improve their health and safety performance.

This three-module course outlines proven techniques for identifying hazards, assessing risks and controlling hazards for everyday situations, and covers essential topics such as hazard mapping, workplace inspections, risk assessment techniques, and the hierarchy of controls.

Working at Heights

Working at heights is a common activity, but it can pose serious hazards. Falls frequently result in severe injuries or fatalities. Protect your workers by managing the risks of working at heights.

Learn to assess and control hazards related to working at heights, including fall prevention and fall protection. This introductory course should be supplemented by further instruction and hands-on training that is specific to your job, worksite and equipment.

Both e-courses, like all e-learning offerings from CCOHS, have been developed by subject specialists in the field, and reviewed by representatives from labour, employers and government to ensure the content and approach are unbiased and credible.

Learn more about these e-courses and register online

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From the School Lab to the Workplace

Applying the basics of lab safety

Science class in elementary or high school is likely where we were first introduced to chemicals and their associated hazards - ones similar to those many of us encounter in our current careers. This is where the basics for lab safety are established, and in turn, most likely where the basics for workplace health and safety are instilled within us.

Whenever a student enters a laboratory, rules need to be in place to keep them safe. Basics such as conducting one's self appropriately, never working alone, practicing good housekeeping, always wearing required personal protective equipment, dressing appropriately for the lab, as well as many others, are the same in grade 7 science as they are on our first day of work.

One of the most important rules is that students should always be trained to properly and safely use all equipment, chemicals and materials. You may remember a lesson on Bunsen burners before you were actually allowed to use one - the same goes for equipment in the workplace. You should never begin a job until you have been properly trained.

Science teachers are responsible for implementing these rules, as well as other safety precautions and procedures. They, along with the school itself, are responsible for making sure the lab and equipment are in good working order, and the materials are accurately labeled for students. The school must also do their best to identify potential hazards in order to make certain the proper safety precautions are in place before a student enters the lab.

Schools are also responsible for ensuring teachers are properly trained to teach science, can identify potential dangers and know what to do in the case of an emergency. Managers and supervisors must also hold this level of competency in the workplace, just as the employer is responsible for the safety of the organization as a whole.

There are many similarities between school and the workplace with regards to how and what we learn. The basic principals for school lab safety arguably shape our process of learning to work safely in hazardous workplace environments. Our sense of orientation to hazards is established here. It is important that employers, managers and supervisors continue this practice, as well as perform due diligence for employees to perform their jobs safely.

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Pipeline to Legislation

How TransCanada PipeLines stay connected to the latest legislation

TransCanada PipeLines Limited operates one of the most sophisticated pipeline systems in the world. Its network of more than 60,000 km (37,000 mi.) of wholly owned and 7,800 km (4,847 mi.) of partially owned natural gas pipelines connect virtually every major natural gas supply basin and market, transporting 20 per cent of the natural gas consumed in North America.

Since 2001, TransCanada PipeLines has been a subscriber of CCOHS' Canadian enviroOSH Legislation plus Standards service. We recently caught up with David Jarrell, Senior Industrial Hygienist in Calgary, to see how TransCanada stays on top of their legislation needs.

And with the Standards option, TransCanada enjoys instant, linked access to the full text of related standards from the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) that are cited in the legislation/regulations in the CCOHS collection.

Learn more about Canadian enviroOSH Legislation plus Standards

 

 

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Dealing with Challenging Return to Work Situations?

Take our webinar on February 16, plus earn points

The majority of workers return to their jobs successfully. Unfortunately for a few, problems may arise that complicate their recovery and return to work. Gain an understanding of the challenges that some injured workers face in returning to work, which can result in long-term workers' compensation claims, during a live webinar presented by CCOHS in partnership with the Institute for Work and Health (IWH).

On February 16, 2011, join Dr. Ellen MacEachen, president of the Canadian Association for Research on Work and Health and a scientist at IWH, for A Guide to Challenging Return-to-Work Situations.

This 90-minute webinar is based on a study on complex return-to-work problems by Dr. MacEachen and colleagues at IWH, which involved in-depth interviews with injured workers, service providers, insurers and workplace personnel. You will learn about key issues in the four contexts in which injured workers interact with professionals. In addition, you'll discover specific "red flags" in each context that signal potential problems in returning to work, as well as "green lights", or helpful practices to prevent these problems.

There will be time for Dr. MacEachen to answer your questions following the presentation portion of the session. Each paid registration includes a copy of the presentation slides, access to the recording, and qualification for certification maintenance points from the American Board of Industrial Hygienists (ABIH), Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists (CRBOH), and the Ontario Kinesiology Association (OKA).

Learn more and register for this webinar

You may also be interested in these on-demand webinars:

Best RTW Practices for Workers with Musculoskeletal and Mental Health Conditions, with Dr. Renée-Louise Franche, Ph.D. Get up-to-date on best practices for the most effective workplace RTW programs for injured or ill workers, based on the latest research evidence. Buy the recording and listen to the session anytime from the comfort of your computer. Purchase price includes a copy of the presentation slides as well as qualification for certification points from ABIH, CRBOH and OKA.

Manual Materials Handling: Risky Business, with Dhananjai Borwankar, CCOHS Technical Specialist. This recorded webinar outlines the five major factors that contribute to MSD injuries as a result of manual materials handling (MMH) activities. The presentation will focus on quantifying these factors in order to understand how to identify which tasks are particularly harmful at a workplace, and what parts of the body are most at risk while performing these tasks. Fee includes customizable tools and checklists to help you identify and address your particular workplace MSD issues, as well as qualification for certification maintenance points from ABIH, CRBOH and OKA.

See all CCOHS webinars

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A Day for Reflection

Commemorating 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.

Show your support for this National Day with a Day of Mourning commemorative pin. Or, display our free poster at your workplace. The faces and dark silhouette honour the numerous lives injured or lost, while the butterfly symbolizes change, transformation, and a renewal of commitment.

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 the Poster

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Streamline your MSDS Authoring

CANWrite now available at a new price

Powerful yet easy to use, CANWrite software helps companies meet the challenge of writing and maintaining accurate, understandable, and compliant MSDSs for Canada and the United States. And now it's more affordable than ever.

CANWrite software is no longer an annual subscription. Pay only once for CANWrite and also receive your first-year subscription to RTECS, CHEMPendium and Regulatory databases, software maintenance (patches), premium client support, as well as access to CCOHS' Chemical Notification Service. After that first year, you can choose to continue your subscription to these database resources and/or to continue with the software maintenance program. Plus, when the next major release of CANWrite MSDS authoring software is available, you will receive 50% off the cost of upgraded software.

To see if CANWrite meets your needs and for pricing information, contact Elaine Duerksen at elained@ccohs.ca.

Learn more about CANWrite MSDS authoring software

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Weigh in and Win

Take our annual readership survey

It's that time of the year where we ask you what you like and what you don't like about Liaison. How can we improve this newsletter to make it more useful for you?

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 25, 2011, in order to be eligible to win.

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