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On Topic
It's neither new nor surprising that some people use and abuse alcohol and other substances. A 2004 study by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) showed that about 80% of Canadians currently drink alcohol, and 13.6% of all Canadians are considered to be high risk drinkers. Add the fact that approximately 14% of Canadian adults currently use marijuana and it becomes very likely that substance abuse in the general population will show up in the workplace.
Everyone can have a bad day however an employee with a substance problem will often display noticeable changes in behaviour over a period of time. The employee may be frequently late or absent from work. They may have reduced productivity and/or poor work quality. Substance abuse can impair reflexes, concentration and alertness on the job, increasing the risk for accidents. It can affect decision making and overall job performance.
What are the costs to a business?
CSSA reports that in 2002 the abuse of tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs cost the Canadian economy more than $39 billion. The costs to a business center around four main impacts: premature deaths (substance abuse-related illness) and fatal accidents; injuries and accident rates; absenteeism; and lost productivity.
There can be additional costs related to:
Alerts & Bulletins
Roadside Hazards
Lights are flashing, traffic slows to a snail's pace and you can see the stretcher being loaded into the ambulance. Police stand on the side of the road directing traffic around the accident and the firefighters load their equipment back onto the truck. This is a scene many of us have witnessed on our streets, roads and highways. What we don't see are the injuries and deaths that result from emergency responders being struck by passing vehicles.
SAFE Work Manitoba has issued a bulletin to raise awareness of the hazard faced by emergency workers - police, fire and paramedic services - providing emergency roadside assistance, who are at risk of being struck by vehicles traveling in nearby traffic lanes.
Safe work procedures
To minimize the risk associated with working near moving traffic, employers must establish and implement safe work procedures. The procedures must provide effective means of traffic control for emergency responders who are providing roadside assistance. Safe work procedures must be appropriate to the task, for example, rescuing a trapped individual from their car, stabilizing a victim before they are transported by ambulance, responding to an emergency call and parking on the side of the road, and other unusual circumstances. Emergency response workers must be trained to follow these procedures and be provided with tools and resources needed for protection.
Worker protection
In addition to implementing safe work procedures, there are other precautionary measures that can be taken to protect workers providing emergency roadside assistance:
CCOHS News
In just a few days, health and safety professionals and experts from across the country will meet in the National Capital Region to discuss the impact of leadership in a rapidly evolving workplace. CCOHS' Forum III: Leading Workplace Change is being held March 8-9, 2010, and there are still spots available.
For those who are interested in Forum III but cannot attend in person, CCOHS is now offering a live webcast of the speaker, panel and case study sessions.
Watching the webcast is the next best thing to being at the event. Webcast registrants will see live video of speakers along with their slides, all synchronized to their presentation. They will gain insights from leading health and safety experts on topics ranging from leadership, workplace violence, participatory ergonomics, to training and knowledge transfer.
Each day is available as a separate package, and includes the ability to submit questions and to download the presentation slides. In addition, the fee includes access to the recording for 30 days following the webcast. Continuing education points are also available.
Presentations will be delivered in English however if they prefer, webcast registrants will have the option to listen to the simultaneous French language interpretation.
Learn more about the webcast and register.
Find out more about Forum III.
Last Word.
Forget Them Not - April 28
April 28th is National Day of Mourning in Canada. The flag on Parliament Hill will fly at half mast, we will pause, remember those who have lost their lives or been injured in the workplace, and reflect on how to prevent future tragedies.
You can wear your support with a Day of Mourning commemorative pin. Or, you can download and display our free poster in your workplace. Printed posters are also available at a nominal cost. To receive your materials in time, you should place your orders by March 31.
Steps for Life Walk - May 2
On May 2nd, in 28 cities across Canada, the Steps for Life 5 KM Walk will kick off NAOSH Week 2010. The event is not only fun, it also helps spread the message that workplace injuries and illnesses are preventable. Steps for Life is the major fundraising event for Threads of Life, a national charitable organization dedicated to supporting families along their journey of healing who have suffered from a workplace fatality, life-altering illness or occupational disease.
The CCOHS team will once again be walking in the Hamilton event. Find the walk closest to you and put your team together. It will be a Sunday to remember. Learn more about how you can participate on the Steps for Life website.
More information
Learn more about the National Day of Mourning.
Listen to the Day of Mourning podcast with CCOHS President and CEO Len Hong.
Download the Day of Mourning poster.
Order Day of Mourning pins.
The Health and Safety Report, a free monthly newsletter produced by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), provides information, advice, and resources that help support a safe and healthy work environment and the total well being of workers.
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