Canadian Safety Reporter

December 2013 the workplace safety source for ohs managers and hr professionals Smoking cessation programs effective: Conference Board IMPROVING SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS BEGINS WITH WORKERS $4,256 lost annually per smoker as a result of decreased productivity: Study NEWS BRIEFS | By Zachary Pedersen | In that time 16 people have signed up for the program and only eight have succeeded. "Even if someone enrolls in the program and only makes it six months… it's still six months of living healthier and six months of fewer smoke breaks," he says. "It's still an everybody-wins type of situation." Quit smoking. Keep it up for one year. Get a $1,000 reward. That's the deal for employees at ServiceMaster York Region in Newmarket, Ont. It's a large sum — but it's worth it, according to Rob Giroux, vice-president of sales and administration at ServiceBottom-line cost jumps significantly Master York Region. In 2012, the average Canadian employer "We know the research shows that lost $4,256 per smoker as a result of denon-smokers take far fewer sick days creased productivity and and our experience has increased absenteeism, acvalidated that, so there's "We know the cording to the Conference an upside for us as the emBoard of Canada's recent ployer," says Giroux. "Proresearch shows report, Smoking Cessaductivity also increases as that non-smokers tion and the Workplace: a result of smoke breaks take far fewer Benefits of Workplace Probeing eliminated." grams. Productivity isn't the sick days and our The study was cononly factor ServiceMaster experience has ducted by the Canadian York Region considers. validated that, Alliance for Sustainable "First and foremost, so there's an Health Care (CASHC), a employee health is very program run by the Conimportant to us," Giroux upside for us." ference Board. says. "This initiative is a Unsanctioned smoke way to encourage employbreaks made up about 90 per cent of the ees to make more healthy lifestyle decicost to employers, totaling $3,842 per sions" full-time employee. Any one of ServiceMaster York ReThe overall cost of decreased progion's 50 employees can apply for the ductivity jumped nearly $1,000 from program. The worker must inform Gira similar study the Conference Board oux of his plan and give an initial quit conducted in 2005. At the time, emdate. If the worker remains a non-smokployers were losing $3,396 annually per er for the entire year, he will receive the daily smoker. bonus. "They're working in crews, so it's the More sick days honour system. We haven't seen any Daily smokers tend to also take about abuse of it," he says. ServiceMaster York Region has had Continued on page 6 the program in place for about 15 years. IN THIS ISSUE Focusing on a solid internal responsibility system sets stage for safe processes . . . 3 B.C. health-care workers must get flu shot or wear mask: Arbitrator; Saskatchewan first province to require mandatory asbestos reporting; National Energy Board releases draft 'safety culture' framework for oil and gas; Canadian, U.S. workers may be exposed to lead from shop towels: Study; Young, old works lack workplace health coverage when needed: Report; Canadian companies increasing investment in worker health: Survey . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 LEGAL VIEW A recent Ontario ruling shows the limits of an employer's duty to accommodate . . . . . 7 To repair or not to repair? Fixing problems after an incident wont be viewed as admission of guilt: Lawyer | By Zachary Pedersen | After a safety incident occurs in the workplace, employers looking to rectify the unsafe area or policy may be concerned that implementing any changes may lead to increased liability. But fixing problem areas won't lead to increased liability, though it may lead to some serious questions, says Loretta Bouwmeester, a partner at Heenan BlaiContinued on page 2

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