April 27, 2018
Safety Leaders Gather at Annual Conference
The Workers Compensation Board (WCB) of Prince Edward Island was pleased to host its annual Workplace Health & Safety Conference this week to another packed crowd. In hosting the conference, the WCB aims to bring employers and workers together to discuss emerging issues and topics related to workplace safety. “It was another eventful conference, with relevant and timely topics on occupational health and safety,” said Stuart Affleck, Chair of the Workers Compensation Board. “We are proud to host this important event, as it continues to be an excellent opportunity to come together as safety professionals, employers and workers, to build awareness around safety.” This year’s delegates were treated to an engaging presentation by Curtis Weber, this year’s key note speaker. Curtis Weber comes from Battleford, Saskatchewan, and has been inspiring and influencing change in safety behaviours across North America for over 10 years. Working in safety as a Trainer, Consultant, Officer and Speaker, following a near fatal workplace incident, Curtis has been able to develop a unique way of challenging audiences to change the way they perceive safety. Curtis believes that before we can develop or change a safety culture, first we must understand and influence human behaviours towards safety. Using his own personal experience of a near fatal workplace incident, Curtis tells his story and challenges the way people think about safety. This heartening presentation shows how a tragic, life-changing, and near-fatal experience turned one man's experience toward passion and purpose. Delegates also enjoyed a variety of sessions relevant to today’s employers, managers, supervisors and workers, and designed to promote safety skills, knowledge and awareness. Topics included:Creating Mentally Healthy Workplaces Lift Smart & Stay Safe: A Guide to Injury Prevention and Safe Lifting at Work Fire Safety in the Workplace Workplace Policies #TrendingNow Safe Business is Smart Business Safety Culture: Beliefs, Values, Actions Supervisory Development-What Do I Really Need to Know? Accident Investigation for Today’s Workplace Using Behavioural Insights to Nudge Workers Back to Work Finding Balance: A Self-Care Approach to Managing Your Life Safety Communications at Maritime Electric. The conference also featured a trade show of products and services from Canada’s health and safety community. The conference also featured an inspiring workshop from PEI's own Paralympic Medalist Mark Arendz, who recently won six medals at the 2018 Paralympic Games in Pyeong Chang, including a biathlon gold. Mark’s session, Finding Opportunities After Loss, chronicled his journey from a traumatic farm accident on PEI when he was only seven years old, to becoming a Paralympic Medalist and a World Champion in Biathlon and Cross Country Skiing. The WCB hosts the conference annually around North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. For more information about creating a culture of workplace safety throughout the year, visit the Health and Safety section of the Workers Compensation Board website at www.wcb.pe.ca or contact the WCB office at 902-368-5680 or toll-free at 1-800-237-5049. Aussi disponible en français.
April 27, 2018
Commemorating workers injured or killed on the job
This Saturday, April 28th is the national Day of Mourning, a day set aside to honour the memory of workers who have been injured or killed on the job. On this day, and throughout the year, Islanders are encouraged to remember those we have lost and those affected by workplace tragedy, by raising awareness of workplace safety. The Prince Edward Island Federation of Labour will be hosting the annual Day of Mourning Ceremony at 7 pm on Saturday, April 28. The Ceremony is open to the public and will be held at the St. Paul’s Hall, 101 Prince Street in Charlottetown and will be followed by a public reception. “Any life lost to a workplace injury is one too many,” said Stuart Affleck, Workers Compensation Board Chair. “We must commit to working together to make safety and prevention top priority and to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses.” The Day of Mourning was first recognized in Canada in 1984, and since then has been commemorated in over 100 countries worldwide. “On this day, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives on the job,” states Carl Pursey, President, PEI Federation of Labour. “We will come together to honour their memory, mourn their loss and dedicate ourselves to improve workplace health and safety.” Islanders may also mark the day by lowering workplace flags at half-mast, observing a moment of silence or wearing a Day of Mourning lapel sticker available from the Workers Compensation Board at 14 Weymouth Street in Charlottetown. Aussi disponible en français.
