[Healthandsafety] News April 11-08

["Barry Doyle" <bdoyle@cupe.ca>]

Workplace injuries up dramatically over winter
The Daily News (Truro) 
Fri 11 Apr 2008 
Page: 4 
Section: Colchester County 

Workplace injuries relating to snow, sleet, freezing rain and ice jumped significantly this winter, according to the Workers' Compensation Board of Nova Scotia. 

The statistics released Thursday show there were 1,037 workplace injuries reported to the board from December 2007 to March 2008, representing a 64 per cent increase from last year and twice as many as two years ago. 

In Colchester County, there were 54 injuries reported this year, compared to 33 and 30 the past two years respectively. 

"There's no question that winter weather presents safety challenges, but that's no excuse for workplace injuries," said Stuart Maclean, WCB's vice- president of prevention. "There is no such thing as a workplace 'accident'. All injuries are avoidable with the proper training and commitment." 

Of the 1,037 injuries, 311 resulted in lost time from work. 

Many of the injuries are winter-weather related such as slips and falls on ice or motor vehicle crashes while many are musculoskeletal, such as moving heavy, wet snow. 

"Changing the way work is designed is the key to preventing musculoskeletal injuries," MacLean said. "As we prepare for the summer, when we know workplace injuries overall tend to peak, it's important to think about the way work is designed and carried out. 

"Inside or out, whatever work we're doing, it's about thinking from a mindset of safe work design." 

The cost of musculoskeletal injuries to Nova Scotia industry is estimated between $100 million and $1 billion per year in direct and indirect costs, including lost productivity, replacing workers, overtime and training. 

© 2008 Transcontinental Media G.P. All rights reserved.


Idnumber: 200804110005 



WSIB rebates 'embarrassing' but Mahoney stays put
Metroland - Mississauga Division 
Thu 10 Apr 2008 
Page: 01 
Section: The Mississauga News 
Byline: Torstar Network 
Column: 6 
Dateline: Article 

Premier Dalton McGuinty said he will not heed calls to fire the embattled chair of the provincial workplace safety agency, but branded its flawed rebate program an "embarrassment" that needs to be fixed. 

McGuinty's comments came as labour groups held a news conference at Queen's Park yesterday morning, demanding he fire Steve Mahoney, the former Mississauga MPP who is now chair of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). 

Mahoney has said he was unaware his rebate program was defective. 

McGuinty appointed Mahoney, a former Mississauga city councillor and Liberal MP, to the WSIB post in 2006. 

Mahoney's comments came in the wake of an ongoing Toronto Star investigation into worker safety that found the WSIB has given millions of dollars in rebates to companies that have been prosecuted by the provincial government and found guilty of safety violations leading to deaths, amputations and other serious injuries. 

Despite the deaths, and subsequent ministry of labour fines, those same companies received rebates over the years that ranged from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. 

Yesterday, McGuinty said it is time to change the rebate program. 

"I think we're all in sync in terms of the recent developments and our shared understanding of something that's been taking place, which is simply not acceptable," said the premier. 

"This is a bit of an embarrassment. Certainly our government believes we need to make some real changes here," McGuinty said. "There is a strong consensus that has developed around this issue and I know there are going to be some changes. Changes in terms of the policy." 

In mid-March, in response to questions from The Star, Mahoney announced a review of the rebates (called the "experience rating system") and declared a moratorium on payments to companies that have caused worker deaths. The WSIB website says the review will take 12 months - too long for labour groups seeking change - but Mahoney said this week he wants staff to report back to him in two weeks. 

Reached at his office yesterday, Mahoney said he is asking his staff to recommend a request that an outside firm can be hired to examine the entire rebate system. 

"One of the issues that will be looked at is whether the system itself should be scrapped and replaced with a whole new system," Mahoney said, while cautioning that he does not want to "pre-judge" the analysis. 

He also said he is going to look at other provinces to see what works in their worker compensation systems, citing the British Columbia example that has merged the safety agency and the ministry of labour into one powerful body that creates and enforces its own regulations. 

Wayne Samuelson, president of the Ontario Federation of Labour, which represents 700,000 workers, told a news conference yesterday that he has been warning the WSIB and labour ministry about the rebate problems for the past decade - with no response. 

"We need to stop this outrageous system today," Samuelson said. 

Dave Wilken, a lawyer with the Industrial Accident Victims Group of Ontario, said the experience rating system entices companies to cover up their injuries and claim the rebates. Companies compile a false but glowing record, Wilken said, as their safety practices are never scrutinized, placing more workers at risk. 

© 2008 Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing


Idnumber: 200804100002 
Edition: Final 
Story Type: News 
Length: 544 words 


Vancouver company fined in death of film-set worker
The Globe and Mail 
Fri 11 Apr 2008 
Page: S5 
Section: British Columbia News 
Dateline: Toronto 
Source: The Canadian Press 

Toronto -- A Vancouver-based film production company was fined $250, 000 yesterday for the death of a worker who was crushed on a set of the movie Jumper. 

The worker was killed and another was seriously injured on Jan. 25, 2007, when a crew was dismantling the set in Toronto. 

Jumper Productions Ltd. pleaded guilty in Ontario Court to three counts under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. 

© 2008 CTVglobemedia Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved.


Idnumber: 200804110011 
Length: 68 words 

Barry Doyle
Senior Officer, Health and Safety
Canadian Union of Public Employees
1375 St. Laurent Blvd.
Ottawa, ON  K1G 0Z7
o.613-237-1590 x289
c.613-294-9424
f. 613-237-5508
bdoyle@cupe.ca
www.cupe.ca