April 2023

FRANÇAIS | ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ

Poor materials handling is a common cause of back injury. Every year, more than 12% of WSCC injury claims result from poor handling of materials.

To help prevent injuries, take the following steps when lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling objects or loads:

• Check how heavy the object or load is before you move it. 
• Decide if you need help to move it, if you can break the load into a few lighter ones, or if you need equipment to safely move the load.
• Check the route and how far you need to carry or move the load.
• If you can move it without help, make sure you can hold the object comfortably and as close to your body as possible. 
• Check if you need to lift the object or load up to a shelf or down to a lower surface while you are moving it.
• If your job includes frequent lifting and carrying each day, talk with your supervisor about safety.

Discuss these points with your supervisor to see if you need any safe lifting procedures, tools or mechanical aids for lifting, special workflow planning, or how often you should rest between lifts. 

If you move loads frequently, you may want to consider using WorkSafe BC’s online calculators to determine the weight that can be lifted/lowered or pushed/pulled/carried.  

To learn more about the ergonomics of materials handling, consult WSCC’s Safety Spotlight.

Every year, April 28 marks the Day of Mourning to honour workers who have lost their lives as a result of workplace injuries or illnesses.

Together we remember and commit to workplace health and safety to prevent further tragedies. One life lost is too many.

Employers can show their support and commitment to a safe workplace by marking Day of Mourning this April 28.

Ceremonies in both Yellowknife and Iqaluit, hosted by the Northern Territories Federation of Labour, will take place at noon on April 28th in the respective Legislative Assemblies. All are welcome to attend. Wear black to show your support.

WSCC encourages employers to use Safety and Health Week as an opportunity to talk about safety, focus on preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace, and review your Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) plans. Here are some ideas for how you can observe the week in your workplace:

• Request a visit from a WSCC safety professional. A visit from a WSCC safety professional this year includes a review of good ergonomic practices for back health. To request a visit, call 1-800-661-0792 in Northwest Territories or 1-877-404-4407 in Nunavut, or email us.
• Host daily safety meetings for employees. Pick relevant and important subjects for your workplace, and give workers the opportunity to lead the discussion. Find examples of Safety Talks topics on our website.
• Make workplace safety engaging and informative! Organize a daily quiz, or bingo sheet for the week that covers essential safety information at your workplace (emergency plans, safety policies, and industry or job-specific subjects that are important for your workers). 

Show your commitment to health and safety by sharing how you are celebrating Safety and Health Week on Facebook and Twitter and tagging @WSCCNTNU! 

Any employee under 25 years old is considered a “young worker”. 

Like any other worker, they can also be victim of a workplace incident. Every year, the WSCC receives on average more than 400 claims for injuries to young workers. Getting struck by an object, overexertion, and falls are the most common incidents that involve young workers. Young workers’ hands, fingers, and backs are the body parts that sustain most of the injuries.

These facts show that young workers must receive site-specific health and safety training in the workplace. While they may have previous work experience, never assume that a new worker knows safety procedures specific to your work site. Whether new to the work force, or just new to your workplace, all workers have the right to receive the training required to make sure they can do their job safely every day.

Check out these free resources to organize workplace training, and safety orientations for students, interns, or volunteers. Incorporate them into your safety program today! 

• Young Worker Certificate Course: A free, online 2-hour training that provides general workplace safety knowledge. Note: This course does not replace work site-specific safety training.
• Young and New Worker Safety Orientation Guide: This tool helps employers and supervisors plan for training and orientation of summer students and volunteers. 
• Young Worker Resources: Browse our resources for young workers, including guides, our Ready to Work Checklist, and workplace safety posters!  

Contact WSCC if you have any questions about workplace safety for young workers.

Policy update

The Governance Council reviewed and approved revisions to the following policies at its March 2023 meeting:

• Policy 02.01 - Employer Assessments 
• Policy 04.01 - Payment of Compensation 
• Policy 04.03 - Choice and Change of Health Care Provider 
• Policy 11.02 - Reporting an Injury, Disease or Death 
• Policy 10.03 - Procurement 

Please refer to the WSCC Policy Manual to view all WSCC policies, and the Governance Council Directives to view all governance directives.

WSCC Office Closures

WSCC offices are closed for Easter holidays on Friday, April 7, and will reopen on Tuesday, April 11 at 8:30 AM.

To report a serious workplace injury or incident, call 1-800-661-0792.

To report unsafe work, use our online Report Unsafe Work service on WSCC Connect.