What is a Terms of Reference? A terms of reference is a written statement that describes the function of the joint health and safety committee (JHSC) and outlines the procedures that the JHSC will follow. Why does the JHSC need…
Author: Gary Stevenson (page 5)
A Real Workplace Puzzle: The Ins & Outs of Safety Culture
What is safety culture? For some, it’s a buzzword that is oft-used but not truly understood. While safety culture isn’t tangible, it is definitely measurable. It’s also plastic. If your organization’s safety culture isn’t where it needs to be, it…
Power Outages and Workplace Safety
Canadians have many things to be thankful for, and among them is the joy of experiencing four true seasons in all of their splendor. There are certain areas in Canada that experience seasonal weather events more frequently than others. For…
What Counts as a Confined Space
Defining whether a space is confined or not is still something that tends to cause some confusion in the workplace. So, let’s simplify what can sometimes be a grueling task. In Ontario, Regulation 632/05 defines confined spaces as: a fully…
The Right to Disconnect from Work
We are in the age of connectivity. It’s been amazing to see how far technology has come in such a short time. 30 years ago, cell phones were rarely seen outside of movies, on wall street, or in the mischievous…
Newcomer Workplace Health and Safety Training
Canada is known for its progressive stance on immigration and for accepting refugees and asylum seekers from many countries around the world. Many newcomers bring skills, knowledge, and abilities that can be immediately applied to jobs here in Canada. However,…
How to Create Effective Job Onboarding Packages
Contemporary employment trends have varied drastically from the traditional, linear tendency from times past. According to statistics published on Workopolis.ca, the average Canadian worker can be expected to change jobs 12 times over the course of their working career. The…
The Courts Are Serious About Health and Safety
The courts are serious about health and safety! In a highly anticipated decision, the Honourable Pierre Dupras of the Court of Québec’s Criminal and Penal Division found Sylvain Fournier, the owner, and president of S. Fournier Excavation, guilty of manslaughter…
Which Type of Lighting is Best for Workplace Wellness
When it comes to workplace hazards, rarely does the mind go to lighting; it is often taken for granted. Consider this: without light from a natural or artificial source, we wouldn’t be able to complete our work. Because lighting plays…