Features
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Behind Bars
An increase in reported inmate-on-staff violence in Ontario’s correctional institutions has led to the release of a report by the province’s independent corrections adviser in December 2018, offering 42 recommendations aimed at making jails safer. But correctional violence is not…
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The Search for Answers
Ten years after boilermaker David Fifi was determined to have died of natural causes, the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) of Manitoba is reviewing the case following the emergence of new medical evidence indicating that his sudden demise was caused by…
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Brave New World
In 1942, science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov set out three laws of robotics, one of which says that “a robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.” Artificial intelligence (AI) and…
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In the Woods
Canada, home to roughly nine per cent of the world’s forests, is where black bears, moose and other wildlife live out their natural lives. Outdoor enthusiasts kayak on both quiet rivers and raging rapids alike while parents and kids go…
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Upping the Ante
In response to the growing demand for safety professionals who can better support workplaces in the changing global economy, new eligibility requirements for Canadian Registered Safety Professional certification will take effect on July 1. With change comes uncertainty, but also…
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Surviving Workplace Inspections
The Ontario Ministry of Labour’s (MOL) 2018 inspection blitzes took place on April 1 and will run until March 21, 2019. The blitzes target specific areas in the following sectors: construction (working at heights, reversing equipment on construction projects); industrial…
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Secret Whispers
The sexual-harassment scandals that made waves in the United States and triggered the #MeToo movement last year has brought about the downfall of actors, movie producers, politicians and celebrity chefs alike. Now, the tsunami of workplace harassment has reached the…
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Safety at Work: What It Means to Employees
How many times you have heard “safety first” or “everything starts with safety”? I am pretty sure that we have all heard some variation of these phrases. As a safety professional myself, it does become challenging at times to know…
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Experts address safety issues of weed on workplaces
OHS Canada’s inaugural symposium on marijuana in the workplace, which was held at the International Centre in Mississauga on February 21, 2018, featured three experts who shared their insights on workplace-safety issues associated with the legalization of recreational marijuana. Topics…
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Make Logging Safer
On October 18, 2017, a logger was killed in a tragic incident near Mackenzie in northern British Columbia. The operator was using a feller buncher to cut timber on a slope when the machine tipped over backwards, cutting off his…
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No Child’s Play
They have had enough. More and more teachers are speaking up about a problem that has largely remained under the radar — violence against teachers from students. One morning, a mother popped into the classroom of an elementary school…
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Precious Cargo
Transporting valuables is a dangerous business. The mounting pressure to stay profitable and competitive aside, the armoured-truck industry’s move towards the controversial “alloff model” has not only raised eyebrows, but also revived the debate of how to keep both the…
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A Deadly Legacy
The federal government is moving towards a full ban on asbestos and asbestos-containing products by the end of 2017. The ban would align Canada with more than 50 other countries. According to OCRC director Paul Demers, corporate subsidies kept the…
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Machine over Man
Gone are the days when manual labour drove the bulk of the work in oil and gas exploration. In a post-peak-oil era, in which resources are harder to extract and oil prices continue to plunge, the race towards automation means higher profitability — and less human error.
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Beyond Coffee and Donuts
A joint health and safety committee (JHSC) is a company’s safety ally. Creating an effective JHSC is an important part of occupational injury prevention and, if done correctly, will yield safety benefits, says David Powers, director of health, safety and…
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Weed at Work
The legalization of recreational marijuana in Canada came closer to reality on April 13, when the Justin Trudeau government introduced the Cannabis Act, or Bill C-45. While pot users across the country applaud the move, others have raised concerns about the effect that the proposed legislation would have on workplace safety.
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A Real and Present Danger
Occupational cancers represent more than half of all work-related disease cases in established market economies, and global estimates of fatal occupational diseases put cancer as the top killer after circulatory disease and work accidents. These are some of the grim…
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Peer-to-Peer
Digital technology has given rise to new business models like Uber and Airbnb. But unlike traditional taxi companies and hotel chains, which are subject to workplace-safety laws, these new kids on the block have largely evaded the regulatory framework. How can legislation play catch-up and bridge the safety gap?
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Investigating Critical Injuries
When a workplace injury happens in Ontario, the employer’s joint health and safety committee (JHSC) plays a key role in collecting information and conducting a preliminary investigation so that a report can be prepared and sent to the provincial labour…
