Canadian Safety Reporter

THE WORKPLACE SAFETY SOURCE FOR OHS MANAGERS AND HR PROFESSIONALS WorkSafeNB rolls out new safety measurement tool Survey, developed by IWH, measures leading indicators of OHS performance at workplaces | BY ZACHARY PEDERSEN | ers, then how are we going to measure whether we're being successful or not," TWO YEARS AGO, WorkSafeNB began its said Anne Lise Albert, assistant director search for a tool to gauge the level of of program development and evaluation internal responsibility in a firm. at Saint John-based WorkSafeNB. "So, It had a lengthy and complex tool to we talked about needing some kind of assess the safety behaviours, processes a survey or tool to measure the (IRS) in and knowledge of New Brunswick ema firm." ployers selected for focused intervenAlbert and her colleagues started tion, but it was time consuming. their search. Normally, an organization's injury "We emailed our counterparts across and illness rates are used to measure the country looking for any experience health and safety performance, but bethey had with a survey trying to meacause they represent injuries that have sure internal responsibility," she said. already occurred, they "And we came up with are known as lagquite a few jurisdicging indicators. Worktions." "We ended up SafeNB was interested The team found in finding a tool that tools being used in really liking the work measured leading indiNova Scotia, Ontario that the IWH had done... cators. Leading indicaand Saskatchewan. but we were uncertain tors are organizational They also found a tool characteristics and developed by the Inabout the ranking practices that point stitute for Work and system." to possible areas of Health (IWH) called improvement before the Organizational workplace accidents Performance Metric or illnesses occur. (OPM). The OPM was developed in 2009 Since 2001, WorkSafeNB had been by the IWH in response to a call from using a questionnaire to identify gaps in Ontario's workplace injury prevention a firm's OHS management system, but system. because it had to be administered to all The tool did just what WorkSafeNB employers, supervisors and managers was looking for — it measured leading within an organization, it was a lengthy indicators of OHS performance in worktime commitment for organizations — places. and for WorkSafeNB. "We ended up really liking the work They wanted to make a change, but that the IWH had done and how they also wanted to be sure the change they had developed the OPM," said Albert. made was effective. "But we were uncertain about the rank"If we're going to work towards iming system." proving the IRS (internal responsibilContinued on page 6 ity system) in New Brunswick employ- OCTOBER 2013 IN THIS ISSUE MENTAL HEALTH 'BIBLE' OVERHAULED New mental health manual could have problem areas for employers: Lawyer . . . .3 NEWS BRIEFS Return-to-work strategies critical for employees with depression: Report; Oil and gas industry releases anti-fatigue principles; WorkSafeNB to offer OHS fundamentals course; Ontario to launch health-care blitz focussing on MSDs; Alberta introduces new workplace safety fines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 METRON CONSTRUCTION FINE INCREASED TO $750,000 BY COURT OF APPEAL Lawyer Norm Keith explains what the ruling means for employers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Fear of harassment not grounds for work refusal: Lawyer Nunavut judge overturns permitted work refusal | BY ZACHARY PEDERSEN | WHEN A NUNAVUT wildlife biologist filed a work refusal due to harassment, a safety officer with the Worker's Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) believed the complaint was valid. Continued on page 2

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