Section
Health Watch
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Managing Change
Significant changes in a workplace affect the mental and physical health of employees, says a recent study by Toronto-based consulting firm Morneau Shepell. The nationwide survey asked employers and workers about their reactions to major changes like job redesign, downsizing,…
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Recognizing Mental Trauma
Two unions held a demonstration in Halifax on November 10 to express their support for a provincial bill that would allow presumptive coverage for first responders, correctional officers, nurses, social workers and several other types of professionals who have been…
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A Tale of Two Sexes
Men and women are not created equal — women have a higher risk of some musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) than men. That was the message that Dr. Julie Côté, associate professor and chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education…
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When a Cuppa’s Not Enough
Workplace fatigue came under the spotlight of late after two recent developments in the transportation sector were found to be fatigue-related. An investigation report published on March 14 by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada concluded that fatigue had likely…
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Active on Wheels
The adverse health effects stemming from sedentary work are well documented. For some workplaces, equipping an office with standing desks or treadmill workstations may not be practical or feasible — not to mention the prohibitive costs of replacing conventional workstations…
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Putting Stress on Stress
Many Canadians feel stressed out at work, according to a preliminary report from the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC). In April, the Commission will publish its full report on mental-health indicators, which classifies workplace stress as an area of…
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Tightening the Belt
A study down south, which finds obese employees cost companies about twice as much money on average as other employees do, highlights the consequences that obesity may have on the workplace.
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SHUTEYE STANDARDS NEEDED
Doctor, doctor – get yourself some sleep. More shuteye for physicians is in order, notes a public release on a recent editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ). Drs. Noni MacDonald, Paul Hébert, Ken Flegel and Matthew Stanbrook suggest…
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POLICE STATE
Ontario’s ombudsman will explore how the provincial police service deals administratively with operational stress injuries (OSI) in response to the receipt of almost three dozen complaints from officers. On March 31, ombudsman André Marin announced he would launch an investigation…
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POLLUTION REVS UP RISK
If there were not already enough reasons to put the brakes on environmental air pollution, another concern looks to be rounding the bend. Recent research out of Children’s Hospital Boston, funded by the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland,…
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DIRTY DEEDS
These days, employers and workers alike are becoming more aware that environmental hazards on the outside can infiltrate workplaces on the inside. Lately, though, the buzz has been growing around a potential enemy launching a sneak attack through wires and…
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A Matter of Respect
Workplace respect is interpreted in countless ways — some views shared by many, others by just a few — but it has some hard lines of what is considered acceptable behaviour.
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A Dire Sit-uation
You might not want to sit down for this. New research suggests that too much sitting, at work or elsewhere, may be responsible for more than just back pain and musculoskeletal complications — it coul…
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Going Viral on H1N1
It has arrived — and not a moment too soon for people concerned about the potential health toll that H1N1 could exact this flu season.
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The Other Hepatitis
There are plenty of types of hepatitis: C likely being the most familiar and capable of setting off the loudest alarm bells in workplace settings.
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Well-Conceived Wellness
WHEN VANCOUVER’S AIRPORT saw lost-time injuries climbing skyward in the late 1990s, it became clear that a new flight plan was in order.
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Distraction Hear and Now
IMAGINE BEING A SAFETY MANAGER, preparing to lead the monthly meeting that’s just about to start. The agenda is full, so everyone will need to focus to get things done.