PEI’s WCB issues reminder to keep workers and workplaces safe during Atlantic hurricane season

Credit: Getty Images/ronniechua

With the Atlantic hurricane season nearing its mid-point, the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) of Prince Edward Island is reminding workers and employers that the best response to unpredictable weather events is proper emergency planning.

“Many Islanders are still feeling the effects of 2022’s post-tropical storm Fiona. If not shared already, this is the time for employers to share with their workers what the emergency plans are to protect people and worksites as hurricane activity picks up in the Atlantic Ocean,” said Danny Miller, the WCB’s director of occupational health and safety. “This includes monitoring weather forecasts, keeping contact lists updated, having extra supplies on hand, and securing worksites, among other things. It also includes supporting workers before, during and after disrupting weather events.”

The WCB has an easily accessible resource to support workers and employers to prepare for unpredictable weather events: the Hurricane Season Safety Tips prevention update available on the WCB website. This downloadable publication includes tips on how to protect workers, how to protect worksites and a list of practical items to have on hand.

The Atlantic hurricane season spans June to November, with most activity occurring between mid-August and mid-October. Historically, PEI and the Maritimes have been hardest hit during the month of September, with hurricanes and post-tropical storms Juan (September 2003), Dorian (September 2019), Teddy (September 2020) and Fiona (September 2022).