New Ontario Workplace Safety Noise Regulation now in effect.

New Regulation 381/15: Noise – The noise regulation came into effect on July 1, 2016. Workplaces with noise levels over 85 decibels must control sound hazards and protect workers from hearing injury.  The regulation also requires employers to train workers. This new regulation extends noise protection requirements to all workplaces covered by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).

How does this affect Ontario workplaces?

• Workers now have prescribed maximum time exposure limits to noise over 85 decibels.
• Employers are required to control noise hazards.
• Employers must provide workers with hearing protection and training regarding the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Noise may be hazardous in the workplace when workers need to raise their voices to be heard, if they notice they have ringing ears or problems hearing after a day at work. An idling truck or a food blender is equivalent to 85 decibels of sound.

Read more about Ontario Workplace Safety Noise Regulation here.

 

Is it necessary to provide intensive Olympic style OHS training to achieve good employee safety results in workplaces?

Employers know that OHS training is required and necessary to keep employees safe while working. As we watch the world’s Olympic athletes show their exceptional athletic skills, a question to consider is “Does intensive safety training help employees better learn how to stay safe at work?”  The answer is yes but no. As with winning athletes, there is more to successful safety results than OHS training.

Yes, training with quality follow-up coaching and practice helps workers better acquire safety skills. Initial training allows employees to learn skills and understand the principles of workplace safety. Ongoing coaching from supervisors and peers provides opportunities to practice new safety skills, similar to an athlete training with a knowledgeable coach and experienced team mates. Practice allow workers to develop confidence with new skills and feel capable of using safety skills while working. Ultimately, employees with solid safety skills are more prepared to remain safe at work.

But no, intensive safety training is not the only thing necessary to prevent workplace injuries. Training is only one of several strategies used to prevent injuries.  If a well trained employee is put in a dangerous work environment with no PPE and many uncontrolled hazards, the risk of injury is high.   Similarly, a well trained athlete such as a diver cannot succeed if competing with a broken diving board during competition.

A comprehensive safety program that controls hazards is the key to good workplace safety results.  To achieve exceptional safety results, research supports employers using the following safety strategies:

• Eliminate hazards
• Make substitutions to less hazardous materials, processes and equipment
• Design work settings so the facility and equipment do not cause hazards
• Implement workplace practices like safe procedures, education, training, job rotation and supervision
• Supply workers with PPE (personal protective equipment)

Olympic athletes develop exceptional skills because of their intensive training and support from family, superior coaches and national athletic programs. Employers can learn from Olympians and be safety coaches by training workers and using best practice safety strategies to control risks in the workplace. With the right work environment and employee support, well trained employees, like athletes, will excel and stay safe.

When managers feel overwhelmed with administrative responsibilities like managing workplace hazards or employee conflicts, thoughts often wander to taking a vacation.

My recent vacation, this July, to scorching Las Vegas exposed us to extreme heat, crowded sidewalks, traffic jams, party goers, and tired, hungry, dehydrated people walking the Las Vegas Strip. There were also many dedicated local residents who worked very hard to take care of the masses of tourists.   As we coped with the challenges of our vacation, I spent some time thinking about how employers on the Las Vegas Strip approach managing workplace hazards. 

Managing workplace hazards in Las Vegas does not really differ from other places in the world. Successful hazard management is all about identifying the safety hazards, figuring out ways to eliminate or control them and training employees about safety procedures. Then, of course, managers must evaluate to determine if they have succeeded in keeping their employees and customers safe.

Identify the hazards. Some hazards are found everywhere but others are unique or more prevalent in certain businesses or locations. The most obvious workplace hazards in Las Vegas are heat stress, repetitive strain injuries, smoking in the workplace, communicable disease, violence, harassment, and working alone.  It is important that employers identify unsafe situations in their workplaces.  As a visitor, I considered the safety issues that could affect my family while we visited the city.

Make a plan to prevent injury. Similar methods are used for successfully managing workplace hazards, no matter where you are in the world.  The most obvious strategy used in Vegas is the systematic way that Las Vegas Strip employers operate their businesses. The hotels, restaurants and attractions operate using standardized procedures. Many initiatives are clearly in place to optimize safety and control risk in this busy tourist area.

Train key people. Employees on the Strip seem very well trained. Most of the businesses are large organizations that likely invest a lot of money into employee training in order to achieve high quality customer service and safety practices. This training benefits employees and customers alike by preparing employees to competently deal with hazards on the job. As visitors, we made sure our family drank lots of water, took breaks from the hot outdoors by exploring the air-conditioned, indoor hotel sites and avoided the riskier attractions off the Strip. We also asked the experts, the local workers and residents, how to stay safe in Las Vegas.

Evaluate and make improvements.  I am not sure how safety initiatives are evaluated by Las Vegas employers but this final step is important. If managing workplace hazards is valued, then employers cannot guess and gamble, leaving safety to chance. Employers must review their workplace safety practices and decide if further improvements are necessary. 

Despite the potential safety hazards in Las Vegas, our vacation was great! But the next time I visit Las Vegas, it will be at a time of the year when the temperature is cooler than 38 degrees Celsius!  

To keep people safe at work, it is important that managers identify OHS vulnerable workers.

It is the summer, a time when employers often worry about the safety of vulnerable workers who join their seasonal workforce. Who are the vulnerable workers at increased risk of occupational heath and safety (OHS) incidents at your workplace?

Employers use various methods to try to identify which employees are at the greatest risk of becoming injured at work. Recent research suggests that OHS vulnerability can be best predicted by considering factors related to both the employee and the workplace.

Issues to keep in mind when determining which workers are OHS vulnerable include:

1. Level of hazard faced by the worker
2. Workplace protections and policies
3. Worker awareness of worksite hazards and safety rights and responsibilities
4. Worker empowerment in injury prevention.

If a worker is negatively affected by all of the four issues, then his or her OHS vulnerability significantly increases. It is important that managers understand that they cannot make decisions about OHS risk based on simple generalizations about work settings or inexperienced employees.

Young workers, such as summer students, are one type of employee that is often considered to be at increased risk of getting hurt on the job.  Individuals who are part of certain demographics such as older workers, younger workers, new immigrants or temporary workers are often stereotyped as being more likely to get hurt while working. But is every individual in these groups at higher risk of injury? There are many sensible, well-trained, safety conscious students and temporary workers.

Work setting also affects a worker’s OHS vulnerability. Workplaces such as construction sites, small businesses and hospitals are considered to be more dangerous.   But many of these types of workplaces have exceptional workplace safety records. These safety conscious organizations in higher risk sectors may object to being classified as unsafe workplaces.

Employers should use accurate methods to identify and protect workers at risk of injury. Managers and supervisors need to consider the relationship between employee knowledge and empowerment and the work setting hazards and protections when identifying OHS vulnerable workers.

Read more about OHS Vulnerable Workers.

New user-friendly tool helps busy managers establish procedures for basic health & safety for small business. 

The Ontario government has made available a new, online tool to help small businesses that have not yet put in place health & safety procedures.  The Ministry of Labour’s “Health and Safety Checklist” identifies required procedures related to health & safety for small business in Ontario.  This combination checklist and resource finder includes links to useful information that will help  small business owners quickly find the information they need so they can understand and put in place safety procedures that comply with Ontario health & safety laws.

Imagine a small business such as a small printing shop, a hairdresser, a community landscaping business or a professional office.  These types of businesses have few employees and are usually operated by individuals who are knowledgeable about a specific specialty service or product.  The business owners wear multiple hats, doing the work of customer service provider, supervisor, trainer, accountant, marketer and administrator.   With the little time they have left, it is challenging but still necessary to ensure that the small business also has the safety procedures required by law.

The MOL Health & Safety Checklist helps small business owners understand the health and safety procedures required by Ontario law.    The checklist identifies basic occupational health & safety act (OHSA) requirements related health & safety roles and responsibilities, records management, hazards in the workplace and training.  This tool can guide small business managers when setting up health & safety procedures for their workplace.

The Health & Safety Checklist is a starting point for organizations.  For some small businesses, the checklist will be all that is required to develop their safety program.  But for workplaces with many hazards that expose their employees to greater risks, additional research or professional help may be necessary to put in place additional required procedures beyond a basic health & safety program.  

Read more about basic health & safety for small business in Ontario.

Executives are powerful health & safety role models.

A senior manager’s behaviour at work sets an example that the organization’s employees will follow. Employees learn about health and safety values at work by watching how the senior managers talk about and use safety principles.  Executives must be health & safety role models.

Role models are powerful teachers. People learn from them because they want to achieve similar goals and behaviours.   A strong leader, who believes that a healthy workplace leads to business success, is a key component to a successful workplace safety program.

Senior managers who talk about and demonstrate support for the organization’s health and safety program energize staff. When one of the boss’ priorities is safety, employees will begin to value it as an important part of their job. Listening to an executive have a casual conversation about a health or safety issue sends a strong message to employees. Simple conversations and regular problem solving between managers and employees brings safety programs to life.

Executives should be aware that they are always being watched.  They should consistently behave as role models. Ask employees if they are having problems at work and help them create solutions. When a hazard is spotted, act to correct it immediately. Refer to safety as a priority when talking to clients and customers.

Senior managers who truly believe employee wellbeing is a measure of business success can become great role models. By making the effort to use health & safety principles in their work practices, these executives help build safer and more productive workforces.