Safety Update

Safety Update:Alberta Sees Increase in OHS Fines

On July 21st, 2008, an article in the Calgary Herald addressed the harsh reality that OHS fines have increased significantly. According to the article, 3.6 million dollars in fines have been handed down in the first six months of 2008 compared to 1.7 million dollars in 2007. Although Alberta falls behind other provinces in terms of penalties, this increase in fines proves that the courts are less tolerant in terms of workplace safety violations. Judges have been handing out hefty sentences more readily as a result of complacency toward safety.

The fact of the matter is that statistics are not necessarily improving with more companies adopting health and safety programming. In 2007, Alberta recorded 154 workplace deaths including 63 occupational disease deaths stemming back several years. This number showed a 24% increase in deaths compared to 2006. As a result, the government has decided to send a very clear message that safety has to be a priority and senseless injuries and fatalities will not be tolerated.

Improving safety, however, is not something the provincial government can transform only through penalties. It starts with the company's desire to voluntarily take the initiative to protect its workers. Pro-active measures to develop or improve a safety program must be the on-going focus of companies to inculcate a safety culture at the forefront of workers' minds. The key principles of a successful program are as follows:

• Management's commitment to the health and safety of all employees,
• Safety responsibilities and accountabilities for all employees,
• Identification of all actual and potential hazards, a risk evaluation and implementation of control measures,
• Employee experience; match the worker to the task,
• Employee training; provide employees with all resources necessary to perform their job with a 'safety 1st' approach,
• Use inspections and incident investigations to continually identify hazards and hazard controls,
• Instill open lines of communication between management and workers so unsafe conditions and acts will be reported and remedied immediately; and
• Hold safety committee meetings to communicate safety on a regular basis.

It is important to remember that proven safety records make for successful companies and employees.

How does your company's Heath & Safety Program measure up? Perform a Safety Awareness Survey Scorecard and find out.

The Topic for August 21th, 2008: Presenteeism vs Absenteeism

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