SAFER

Being predictive and preventative Last-minute risk assessment process helps workers mentally check in

On April 28, we’ll observe Workers’ Memorial Day to honor workers who have died while on the job. It’s a sobering reminder that not every employee who reports in at the beginning of their workday goes home at the end of it. Indeed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of fatal work injuries reported in the U.S. climbed 7% over the previous year, and in fact it’s the third straight year workplace fatalities have increased.

It is crucial for leaders to step up during both successes and failures and take ownership of the outcomes of the systems and processes they create.

Forestry luminaries Kerry Douglas and Ed Wilcock were each honoured with a lifetime achievement award at the 12th annual Vancouver Island Safety Conference. From continuously improving safety at the mill to emergency faller rescue, these guys have safety covered.

In 2016, a survey by the Bulk Haulers Injury Elimination Task Force (BHIET) enlisted the not-for-profit Researchers FP Innovations to survey member‑companies on the issue. They found, on average, 60 percent of all injuries for bulk haulers happened while tarping woodchip loads

The Safety Advisory Foundation for Education and Research, SAFER for short, which was created through broad negotiations between the IWA Canada (now United Steelworkers) and FIR on the coast and the IFLRA in the southern interior for the 1988-1991 master collective agreements in both regions.

While mindfulness doesn’t necessarily work the way the hype proclaims, there are some things that a good mindfulness practice can really help with. By better understanding when mindfulness is the right approach, HR and training programs can better enhance both leader performance and employee well-being.

This month, WorkSafeBC occupational hygiene officer Steve Tye answers questions about the often overlooked hazard of combustible dust. Industry sectors that typically generate combustible dust — such as bakeries, metal foundries, and sawmill operations — need to recognize and control these risks, in order to prevent devastating workplace incidents.