Supporting your stressed-out workforce
Stress takes a huge toll on employees' psychological health,
but there's a lot employers can do to help them deal with it safely
BY MELISSA CAMPEAU
YOU MAY not realize just how
stressed out your employees are.
According to Statistics Canada,
one in four workers reports deal-
ing with high or even extreme
levels of stress on a daily basis.
The American Institute of
Stress notes that occasional
stress is fine — and even helpful
at times — but chronic stress is
linked to an increased risk for
depression, anxiety, heart at-
tacks, stroke, hypertension, im-
mune system disturbances, and
a host of other issues like rashes
and gastrointestinal problems,
and can contribute to insomnia
and even neurological problems.
That has a major impact on
business. According to Statis-
tics Canada, absenteeism due
Suitable occupation
not so suitable
Worker couldn't do some tasks or work all the hours
determined in labour market re-entry assessment
BY JEFFREY R. SMITH
AN INJURED Ontario worker has won an appeal disputing the suit-
able occupation the province's workers' compensation board deter-
mined for him and the hours of work expected of him each week.
The 36-year-old worker became a farm labourer in 2002 and
worked in that occupation for six years. On Sept. 15, 2008, the work-
er was lifting a heavy object onto a tractor and experienced pain in
his lower back. He sought medical attention and was diagnosed with
Safety Reporter
Canadian
www.safety-reporter.com
March 2018
CORRECTIONS CANADA, OFFICERS
DISAGREE ON POTENTIAL DANGER
FROM MISSING TOOL
Tribunal supports work refusals by 37 officers after
institution opts not to conduct special search pg. 3
ORNGE CLEARED OF CHARGES
AFTER FATAL HELICOPTER CRASH
pg. 5
Air ambulance service provider should have
looked into night-vision technology for new
helicopters, but crash involved older one
AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER
CONVICTED AFTER WORKER'S
FALL OFF PLATFORM
Platform had open spots to allow vehicles
on conveyor through but more precautions
should have been taken
pg. 6
INSIDE
NEWS BRIEF
Employee > pg. 4
Credit:
Shutterstock/Roger
Jegg
-
Fotodesign-Jegg.de
Worker > pg. 2
PM
#40065782
WORKPLACE STRESS
RESOURCES
• Mental Health Commission of
Canada (https://www.mental-
healthcommission.ca/English/)
• National Standard of Canada for
Psychological Health and Safety
in the Workplace (https://www.
mentalhealthcommission.ca/
English/national-standard)
• Canadian Centre for Occupation-
al Health and Safety (https://
www.ccohs.ca/)
• stressassess.ca
• thinkmentalhealth.ca
• notmyselftoday.ca
13 Factors of Workplace Psy-
chological Health and Safety from
the National Standard of Canada
for Psychological Health and Safe-
ty in the Workplace:
1. Psychological support
2. Organizational culture
3. Clear leadership and expec-
tations
4. Civility and respect
5. Psychological competen-
cies and requirements
6. Growth and development
7. Recognition and reward
8. Involvement and influence
9. Workload management
10. Engagement
11. Balance
12. Psychological protection
13. Protection of physical safety