During the months of August and September mosquitos are highly active; that means outside workers are at increased risk for West Nile Virus, a virus that causes infection in humans, birds, and animals.
Some workers at risk include farmers, groundskeepers, landscapers, roofers, pavers, construction workers, and painters as well as other outdoor workers. Of course lab workers and health care workers who handle patient fluids are also at risk as well as workers handling dead birds or animals.
Workers at risk of West Nile Virus should receive training on prevention just like any other workplace hazard.
For more information on West Nile Virus or any health and safety concern, please contact WOHIS.
Remember you have the right to a safe and healthy workplace.
July 31, 2008 - Workplace hazards
A recent community poll asked the question: Do you feel safe in your workplace?
74.6% said yes I feel safe in my workplace, while 25.4% said NO.
It makes one wonder how many responding to the poll have not been informed of potential hazards and exposures in their workplace.
This week's headlines reported on two separate asphalt industry deaths: ÔFifteen-year-old dies in Manitoba after being buried in hot asphaltÕ, and ÔPaving crew member dies under asphalt machineÕ in Brampton Ontario.
Asphalt paving material is a dull black mixture of asphalt cement, sand, and crushed rock. After being heated, it is dumped out steaming hot onto the roadbed, raked level, and then compacted by a heavy steamroller.
Some of the hazards in the asphalt industry include: potential burns, spills, falls, explosions, over-fills and contamination that can occur when loading, transporting and unloading hot asphalt.
There is no room for mistakes when working around hot asphalt.
Every workplace has hazards and every worker has the right to know about those hazards. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act section 25 (2) Ôan employer shall provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker to protect the health or safety of the workerÕ, and section 25 (d) Ôan employer shall acquaint a workerÉwith any hazard in the workÕÉ.
Knowing about hazards and training to avoid hazards allows workers to work more safely.
Every worker has the right to a safe and healthy workplace; and the right to leave work uninjured at the end of the work day.
July 24, 2008 - Outdoor Workers
Outdoor workers should avoid prolonged exposure to sunshine because of the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
In Ontario, during the midday hours on clear summer days, UV radiation from the sun can easily exceed recommended exposure limits. It can take only 15 minutes to cause a sunburn on unprotected skin. Exposure of outdoor workers to solar UV radiation should be minimized by:
making use of natural or artificial shade, or
scheduling alternative tasks when the sun is most intense.
Excessive exposure to the sun's radiation over the years is a factor related to premature skin aging, skin cancer, and cataracts in older people.
To reduce outdoor workers exposure to ultraviolet rays:
Wear a hat.
Wear tightly-woven clothing, covering as much of the body as is practical.
Apply sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or higher on exposed skin (don't forget your lips!)
Wear safety glasses that effectively filter ultraviolet rays.
UV-safety measures however should NOT lead to other safety risks such as obstructing your view or heat stress.
Remember, you have the Right to a safe and healthy workplace.
July 10, 2008 - Summer Jobs for Youth Program
WOHIS is happy to be once again involved with the Summer Jobs for Youth Program and welcomes Tara Hogan to our workplace! WOHIS is one of 70 employers in Windsor participating in this program.
This is Windsor's second year with Summer Jobs for Youth Program. The program is a job placement for two hundred teens ages 15 to 18, who will acquire workplace skills through summer employment. Salaries for youth participating in the summer jobs program is government funded. The Summer Jobs for Youth Program includes employment placements in a variety of fields such as recreation, business and youth leadership.
"Young people enter the program with little to no experience and leave with a resume and the self-confidence necessary to find future employment opportunities", says Dan Petoran, program manager at New Beginnings.
WOHIS was able to create a link between New Beginnings and the Workers Health and Safety Centre, recognizing how important it is for young workers to receive health and safety training before their first day on the job. The youths participating in this program now go into the workplace with WHMIS health and safety training.
Everyone has the right to a safe and healthy workplace, including our young workers!
WOHIS Health And Safety Minute
Have you heard our WOHIS Health And Safety Minute? Listen Thursday's during the 'All in a Day's Work' program 4-5 p.m. on CJAM 91.5 FM Radio!
July 03 2008
A report on Vulnerable Workers released on July 18, 2007 from the Ministry of Labour suggests high school dropouts, or early school leavers, are at a higher risk of being injured or killed on the job!
Why do young workers have a greater chance of being injured or killed at work?
Many youth, either early school leavers or new graduates, out of desperation, enter Ontario workplaces and take on risky jobs, and face unsafe conditions. Far too many young workers are injured or killed in the workplace.
Young workers are inexperienced. Young workers are not adequately trained. Young workers do not understand their rights as workers. This contributes to their high rates of workplace injuries and fatalities.
Young workers should know the Occupational Health and Safety Act 25 (2) (a) states your employer has a duty to provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker to protect the health or safety of the worker.
For more information on this or any other health and safety concern please contact WOHIS - Windsor Occupational Health Information Service - at 3129 Marentette Avenue (behind Devonshire Mall) or call us at 519-254-5157.
Remember, you have the Right to a safe and healthy workplace!
June 19 2008 - WHMIS - Students & Volunteers
Do Summer Students who are working for only 2 to 4 months require WHMIS Training?
The answer is ...YES! Under the WHMIS Regulations, ALL workers who come into contact or may come into contact with controlled products require training. The length of time that a worker is employed is not relevant.
WHMIS stands for Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System.
WHMIS applies to all workers covered by the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The onus is on the employer to ensure employees are properly trained. It is recommended that employees who deal with controlled products or hazardous materials complete WHMIS training annually. Reviewing your program ensures that you are still properly meeting the needs of your workforce, have up to date documents, and your employees know how to work safely with the products they work with.
Do Volunteers Require WHMIS Training?
In Ontario, volunteers do not meet the definition of a worker, so they do not legally require WHMIS training. It's a good idea to offer the training to ensure the volunteers know how to safely work with controlled products. It's better to be safe than sorry and provide the training, that way, you reduce the chances of an accident.
Remember, you have the Right to a safe and healthy workplace!
June 12 2008 - Heat Stress
After this week's sweltering heat, WOHIS wants to remind everyone of what you can do to protect yourself against heat stress:
Drink more water
Increase rest break periods
Reduce your pace of work
and most important: Recognize the signs and symptoms of heat stress, which include:
headache, dizziness, excessive sweating, cramping, rashes, and fainting.
Start a buddy system, since people will probably not notice their own symptoms.
If you are suffering from heat stress, get to a cooler location and take a break.
Employers have a duty to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker. This includes ensuring a worker is protected from heat stress by developing and implementing hot environment policies and procedures.
Heat stress is an important workplace health and safety issue.
Remember you have the right to a safe and healthy workplace.
June 5 2008 - Young Workers
Did you know that each day in Canada, more than 40 workers under the age of 19 are hurt on the job?
According to CCOHS (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety).... Statistics from the Association of Workers Compensation Boards of Canada say workers between the ages of 15 and 19 had 14,787 time loss injuries in Canada in 2006, and 10 work-related fatalities! In the 20-24 age group, 35, 976 were injured and a further 41 of those young workers died.
If you hire students or young workers, keep in mind that anyone who lacks experience and trained judgement is at particular risk of getting injured. Young workers rely on YOU for good advice, information and supervision, and ultimately, for their safety.
Help make this a great summer and beyond. Make sure your young workers have a safe and positive work experience.....because,
Everyone has the right to a safe and healthy workplace, including young workers!
May 22nd, 2008 - Dog Bite Prevention
Dog attacks have escalated as a result of the breeding tactics and the attack-dog mentality of many owners. We have seen horrible effects that leave disfigured and injured workers who are afraid to return to their jobs. There are tactics, methods, and strategies to keep workers safe from occupational dog attacks and bite incidents that will result in a safer work environment for anyone who may meet a dog in the field.
Some occupations at risk include letter carriers, utility workers, lawn maintenance workers, delivery workers, veterinarians, and animal care givers to name a few.
All injuries no matter how slight should be reported immediately. Small animal bites may seem inconsequential at first but could lead to serious infections if proper medical attention is not sought. All individuals should maintain current tetanus immunizations and seek medical advice and treatment if an injury occurs.
For more information on this or any health and safety concern, please contact WOHIS - Windsor Occupational Health Information Service - at (519) 254-5157 or visit us at 3129 Marentette Ave. (directly behind the theatres at Devonshire Mall).
Remember you have the right to a safe & healthy workplace!
May 14 2008 - Toxic Trespass Video
Toxic Trespass aired last night on TVO.
This National Film Board production, investigates Windsor and Sarnia:
two Canadian toxic hotspots, with startling clusters of deadly diseases.
In Toxic Trespass, filmmaker Barri Cohen launches an investigation into the detrimental effects of the chemical soup around us. Journeying into toxic nightmares all too common in industrialized countries. Cohen meets passionate activists working for positive change, along with doctors and scientists who see evidence of links between environmental pollution and health problems. Cohen also learns just how quickly barriers can go up when anyone tries to ask questions about the connection between toxins and serious health problems.
Toxic Trespass will soon be available from the National Film Board.
May 8 2008 - National Nurses Week
The start of National Nurses Week begins on Monday May 12, Florence Nightingale's birthday. National Nurses Week is set aside each year to remind us to recognize the contributions that nurses and nursing have made to our community. Nurses make a difference everyday.
Let's ensure that our nurses and all workers are working in safe and healthy environments. Are you wondering what you can do?
Now is a good time to sign the petition to Amend the Occupational Health and Safety Act to include a personal safety clause that would offer protections from emotional or psychological harm as well as from physical harm. Please stop by WOHIS and sign the petition. It could make a difference for all workers.
Sexual harassment is a significant and widespread occupational health and safety hazard for women in the workplace, and current workplace legislation has proven to be ineffective in preventing gendered workplace violence and murder.
Legislation to provide workplace protections from sexual harassment and domestic violence has been brought forward 5 times since 2001 and has failed each time.
Let's urge the Ontario Ministry of Labour to undertake a Òreview of the Occupational Health and Safety Act to examine the feasibility of including domestic violence (from someone in the workplace), abuse and harrassment as factors warranting investigation and appropriate action by the Ministry of Labour....Ó
We have collected hundreds of names so far, but we still need more.
Let's make a change for safer workplaces.
And remember, we all have the Right to a safe and healthy workplace!
May 1 2008 - Emergency Preparedness
The first week in May is Emergency Preparedness Week. Are you prepared? Does your workplace have what it needs in case of an emergency?
Knowing the Risks can help you better prepare.
Every workplace needs an Emergency plan. It will help you to know what to do in an emergency. Know your exits. Practice your Plan. Review your plan once a year.
Prepare for an emergency NOW!
Public Safety Canada reports that although the majority of Canadians believe that an emergency plan is important, only a small number of Canadians have actually created them.
If you need help preparing an Emergency Preparedness plan for your workplace, WOHIS can help.
Come and visit our library at 3129 Marentette Avenue or call us at 519-254-5157.
Remember you have the right to a safe and healthy workplace!
WOHIS has been a United Way Member Agency since 1984. We are a charitable organization endorsed by the Windsor District Labour Council.
Staff are members of CUPE Local 543.5