News Release Archive
LABOUR--OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY -- 52 WEEKS A YEAR ----------------------------------------------------------------- By Labour Minister Guy Brown When we get up to go to work in the morning, one of the last things we think of is whether or not we'll be coming home that night. For most of us, our health and safety at work never crosses our minds. Unfortunately, the reality is that workplace accidents claim lives and cost millions in Nova Scotia each year. Occupational Health and Safety Week is a time to turn our minds to the issue of health and safety in the workplace. But really, health and safety must be a consideration 52 weeks a year. The stats show that we cannot afford to take workplace health and safety for granted. Every year in Canada, one million workers are injured. That's almost two workers every minute. Last year in Nova Scotia alone, there were close to 36,000 claims filed with the Workers' Compensation Board. About $115 million was paid out in benefits. But it's not just WCB expenditures. There is a long list of other costs to consider. Workplace accidents can cause damage to equipment and tools, as well as production delays and interruptions. There may be retraining costs, investigation expenses, and lost staff time. There may be a decline in morale and worker relations. And perhaps, most importantly, there is the human toll on workers and families. All of these items can add up pretty quickly. In 1994, workplace accidents cost Nova Scotians $575 million in indirect costs. Without a doubt, the cost of prevention is far less than the cost of workplace accidents. Regardless of where you work, health and safety must be everyone's concern -- from management right on down the line. When it is, everyone benefits. Workers and their families have greater security and peace of mind. Employers benefit from a healthy and productive workforce, cost-effective work practices, and a good reputation for health and safety. Quite simply, it is good business. Working safely benefits our economy as well. It strengthens Nova Scotia's reputation as a safe and attractive place to invest. It gives us a competitive advantage. On May 17, Nova Scotia passed a new Occupational Health and Safety Act. This act provides a solid framework for improving health and safety for all Nova Scotians. Overall, the legislation strengthens three basic rights -- the right to know, the right to refuse, and the right to participate in workplace health and safety. The new act creates a fair appeal process, which has been recommended for many years. It gives greater support to employees who refuse unsafe work. There are clearer definitions of roles and responsibilities. There are requirements for occupational health and safety policies, programs and representatives. The new act also brings us up-to-date and in line with other Canadian provinces. It introduces new fine levels. It helps officers make better use of time and resources. It focuses on early education and prevention. The new rules also provide back-up to the widely-accepted internal responsibility system (IRS). This is the idea that the best way to build safer workplaces is from the inside. Management and employees are key. With the proper support and commitment, it can work. A few examples are Stora Forest Industries, Point Tupper and Canadian Salt, Pugwash and smaller companies like Greenlaw Construction in Lawrencetown and J.A. Tate Construction in Antigonish. The Department of Labour must be part of that system. It is there to provide support, information and education -- and step in when responsibilities are not carried out. It must be a partnership for health and safety. This government is committed to making Nova Scotia a safe, attractive place for employees to work and for employers to set up shop. The new OHS Act is an important step toward that goal. The new act provides a solid foundation on which to build. The department is working to address other issues like resources. We are now in the process of hiring chief officers to manage services in the four regions of the province. As well, we have secured funding for three additional officers and two education development officers. Over the past few years, there has been ongoing training for our staff. We have a new tracking system that gives officers better information and improves monitoring of activities. We have improved OHS policies, and restructured the OHS Division to better serve the needs of our clients. We are also forming new partnerships with industry. In the past two years, we have worked with the film industry, oil delivery industry, forest products industry, and construction industry to solve problems in their workplaces. We are working with the Nova Scotia Construction Safety Association to provide training. Courses on safe scaffolding and trenching are two examples. And over the summer, the department will be offering education sessions on our new legislation. We are looking towards the future. The new OHS Act puts us on the right path. With the support of Nova Scotians, we are headed toward a safer, healthier future. -30- EDITORS NOTE: Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Week is June 3-7. Contact: Jennifer MacIsaac 902-424-4680 trp May 31, 1996 - 1:10 p.m.