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CAALL Bulletin - October 2009

Table of Contents

New Resources Help Alberta Workers Stay Safe on Ice

A manual and training course for working safely on ice was launched. Also available is a pocket sized version of the manual, as well as an online, interactive course employers and workers can take to ensure they know how to stay safe on ice. For more information, visit the government of Alberta website.

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Some Nova Scotia Workers will lose Pay if they are ill

Health officials say the responsible thing for workers to do is stay home if they believe they are coming down with H1N1. But for some workers in Nova Scotia, that means no pay as the province does not have any legislation that requires employers to provide paid sick time.

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Newfoundland and Labrador Announce New Occupational Disease Initiative

The Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission (WHSCC) announced a new occupational disease initiative that will broaden the medical and scientific knowledge available to the Commission, which is necessary to determine entitlement to compensation for workers and families impacted by occupational disease.

An Occupational Disease Advisory Panel (ODAP) to provide oversight on occupational disease matters and to address government’s action plan was announced. The WHSCC also announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), a leader in the area of occupational health and safety research.

Following an assessment of the occupational disease issues currently being addressed by the WHSCC, the ODAP has approved a medical and scientific review of the literature pertaining to cancer among shipyard workers, which will be completed by the IRSST. For more information, visit the Newfoundland and Labrador Workplace Health and Safety and Compensation Commission website.

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Saskatchewan Distributes Guides to Help Workplaces Prepare for H1N1

The Advanced Education, Employment and Labour's Occupational Health and Safety Branch is distributing a guide, Pandemic Planning: Best Practice Guideline for Occupational Health and Safety, by direct mail to workplaces with occupational health committees around the province and to various stakeholder organizations, including those that represent smaller workplaces that don't have committees. For more information, visit the government of Saskatchewan website.

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Amendments to Government of Canada Wage Earner Protection Legislation now in Force

In January 2009, the provisions of the Wage Earner Protection Program Act relating to payment of severance and termination pay came into effect.

All the consequential amendments to the two bankruptcy laws that were required to implement the full intent of the Wage Earner Protection Program Act have now been completed and came into force on September 18, 2009.

A key feature is the new provision in the laws that will protect collective agreements in bankruptcies. For more information, visit the Canadian Labour Congress website.

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Prix Innovation - Commission de la Santé et de la Sécurité du Travail (CCST) in Quebec

Private-sector workers and employers in the Longueuil region have introduced 16 ingenious, efficient and easy ways to reduce—even eliminate—the risk of work accidents and occupational illnesses. Three businesses stood out for their achievements, earning them a Prix innovation en santé et sécurité du travail.

Organized by the CSST, this contest aims to reward prevention initiatives and disseminate them so they can be applied by other businesses in Quebec. For more information, visit the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail website (en français seulement).

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A common front: Bargaining in Quebec’s public and parapublic sectors

“Ensemble pour les services publics” (together for public services) was the theme for a major tour by representatives of the Front commun SISP–CSN–FTQ throughout Quebec. For three weeks, they will visit the different regions to talk to their members and the general public about the issues involved in negotiating the renewal of the collective agreements ending on March 31, 2010.

The wage gap between public/parapublic employees and other employees in Quebec is a significant obstacle to their optimal performance and development. In 2008, the Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ) estimated this gap at around 7.7% compared to all employees in Quebec, and 5.2% compared to the private sector.

In addition, it would be incorrect to say that government employees have wall-to-wall job security. Only 64% of them have a regular position, three-quarters of them are full-time, one-quarter are part-time, and 36% of them have casual or term positions, and therefore no job security. For more information, visit the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec website (en français seulement).

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Quebec – La Prévention, ca s’apprend!

The CSST’s Défi prévention jeunesse is back, as it has been for each of the last 12 years when classes resumed. This program focuses on the development of safe behaviours and attitudes among young people before they enter the labour market. Last year in Quebec, 170,000 young people were made aware of the importance of developing a culture of prevention. Nearly 900 projects were approved in the 464 schools that joined the challenge.

To take part in Défi prévention jeunesse, just submit a project around the theme of prevention. For more information, visit the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail website (en français seulement).

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British Columbia Winners in Workplace Safety and Health

Companies and individuals in B.C. were recognized at the 2009 Safety Forum and Awards luncheon for outstanding efforts in workplace health and safety. Winners of both NAOSH Week Awards (North American Occupational Health and Safety Week) and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE) Achievement Recognition were recognized. For more information, visit the WorksafeBC website.

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Ontario Government Concentrating on Construction Site Electrical Hazards

Ontario continued its efforts to reduce workplace injuries by focusing on construction site electrical hazards during an October workplace safety blitz.

Ministry of Labour inspectors visited construction sites throughout the province looking for electrical hazards that could cause workplace injuries or fatalities. Inspectors checked that electrical power was disconnected before work begins, that appropriate lockout procedures were being used, and that workers are otherwise protected if power cannot be disconnected. For more information, visit the government of Ontario website.

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Federal and Provincial Governments to work with First Nations to Improve Quality of Life

The federal, provincial and territorial governments agreed to work closely with Aboriginal organizations to help improve the quality of life for Canada's First Nations, but there's still no agreement from Ottawa for a first ministers meeting on Aboriginal issues. For more information, visit the mediaknet website.

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Parliament/Legislatures/Assemblies

Adjournment date Resumption date
Alberta
British Columbia
House of Commons
Manitoba
New Brunswick November 24, 2009
Newfoundland-Labrador
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Nunavut November 24, 2009
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Québec
Saskatchewan
Yukon
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Upcoming Events

Event Location Date
Grand Rendez-vous en santé et sécurité du travail Palais des congrès, Montréal, Quebec November 3-4, 2009
Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) Annual Issues & Research Conference Boston, Massachusetts November 4-5, 2009
Human Factor Perspectives on Safety SFU Segal Graduate School of Business, Vancouver, British Columbia November 30, 2009
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) Forum III Gatineau, Quebec March 8-9, 2010
Health & Safety Canada 2010 Industrial Accident Prevention Association (IAPA) Conference and Trade Show Toronto, Ontario May 3-5, 2010
International Forum on Disability Management Los Angeles, California September 13-16, 2010
18th Annual National Workers' Compensation and Disability Conference & Expo Chicago, Illinois November 18-20, 2010
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