The Signal: WorkplaceNL's Health and Safety Podcast

Occupational health and safety legislation outlines general requirements for preparing and responding to workplace emergencies.  An emergency response plan prepares workplaces to deal with unforeseen situations such as fires, chemical spills, explosions, floods, injury, illness and other crises. Colin Fewer, OHS Educational Consultant - Youth and Aaron Jones, Industrial Hygienist of WorkplaceNL discuss the importance of having procedures that employers and workers follow in an emergency to ensure workplace safety and minimize property damage.

Do you sit for long periods? Is your computer setup making you uncomfortable? Join us as we discuss tips that you, as a worker, can do to achieve a more ergonomically friendly setup. This will help you feel more comfortable and productive at work, as well as reduce the risk of developing an MSI.

Supervisors are responsible for ensuring workers know about the hazards in their work and how to work safely. Join us as we discuss how this responsibility relates to MSI prevention, and identifying MSI risk factors in the workplace.

Building a five-minute pre-activity warm-up into your routine can help prevent strain or sprain injury. In this episode, Dr. Mike Wahl joins us to discuss how a proper warm-up prepares your body to face the physical demands of work. Employers are responsible for helping keep workers healthy and implementing a warm-up program as part of the job may be an effective risk mitigation measure for musculoskeletal injury for physical jobs.

Given the shift in Canada's demographics, conversations about diversity and inclusion in the workplace have become more mainstream. With the number of immigrants steadily increasing every year, these conversations of inclusion have become even more critical to make sure organizations are changing to include all workers. The characteristics of an inclusive environment are one where everyone feels included, supported, and embraced for who they are and for the unique qualities they bring to the team. How do you unlock the power that diversity, equity, and inclusion bring? It starts with a commitment to building

Any injury that arises out of and in the course of a person's employment can be a potential worker's compensation claim. Employers and workers should know how to submit a claim, and what they should expect from the claim process. Join us as we discuss the lifecycle of a worker compensation claim and what employers and workers need to know.

Peer Support is an essential tool to have in your mental health toolbox for those experiencing mental health and addiction issues through sharing lived experiences. DeeAnne Feltham-Scott, OHS Educational Consultant, WorkplaceNL is joined by Meghan Riggs, Communications Officer, Lifewise, to discuss the basics of peer support and the process of becoming a trained peer supporter. Lifewise is the only provincial organization in Newfoundland & Labrador created by and for individuals with mental health and addiction issues. They exist to support and encourage individual recovery through self-determination while working to break the stigma surrounding these societal issues.

Workplace noise is one of the most common occupational health hazards in Newfoundland and Labrador. Workers who are exposed to noise that exceeds recommended levels without protection are placing themselves at risk for hearing loss. Brenda Greenslade, Executive Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Fish Harvesting Association, describes the prevalence of hearing loss in the fishing industry and the measures that are being taken to reduce noise levels. Amy Fitzpatrick, MadeSafe NL and DeeAnne Feltham-Scott, OHS Educational Consultant, WorkplaceNL interview Larry Pinksen who has been a Fish Harvester for 47 years and shares his story of living and working with the detrimental effects of hearing loss.

We make every possible effort to prevent incidents and injuries in the workplace, but we need to be prepared in case things don't go as planned. Prompt and effective rescue from work at heights and in confined spaces is a legislated requirement for employers in Newfoundland and Labrador who conduct those activities. It is critical that employers are prepared to respond effectively and efficiently to emergencies if they occur. Join us as we discuss rescue planning and what that means for employers with our guest Colin LeGrow with Technical Rope and Rescue.

Every provincially-regulated workplace in the province is required to have a Harassment Prevention Plan. There have been many questions from employers and workers on how to meet their legislative obligations in creating a workplace that is free from harassment. Lisa Kavanagh, WorkplaceNL and Linda Sagmeister, Occupational Health and Safety Division, Digital Government and Service NL,  answer some frequently asked questions on this topic.