Alberta workplaces score well for safety

DebraW · 08-05-2007, 10:27 PM

Alberta workplaces score well for safety
Job-related deaths decline in 2006 to lowest level in 15 years

Keith Gerein, edmontonjournal.com
Published: Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Alberta scored one of its best performances in workplace safety in 2006, with the rate of job-related deaths declining to its lowest level in 15 years, new provincial statistics show.

Government officials and injury specialists both hailed the results as good news, since the falling numbers come at a time when Alberta's workforce is rapidly expanding.

Barrie Harrison, spokesman for Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry, said a culture of health and safety appears to be taking hold on job sites, thanks in part to long-term efforts to improve education.

"It is good to see there is some payoff from the awareness and education that's been going on," he said. "But of course when there is even one workplace death, there's nothing to celebrate. Things are going in the right direction but there is a long road ahead."

In total, there were 124 occupational deaths in Alberta last year - 33 of them involving motor vehicles, 27 workplace incidents, and 64 fatalities from job-related diseases. The list includes people who became injured or fell ill on the job years ago but didn't die until 2006.

The 124 deaths was the same as in 2004. However, since Alberta had a bigger workforce in 2006, its workplace fatality rate is better.

In fact, the 2006 rate -measured at 78 deaths per million person-years - is the best result since the current statistical methods were implemented in 1991.

It should be noted that the government's numbers don't cover all workplace deaths, such as agricultural accidents and other cases outside WCB jurisdiction.

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LindseyT · 09-05-2007, 05:23 PM

It's pretty amazing considering it seems like anybody who barely has basic motor skills from the rest of the country has come here.

Myself, I'm getting paid to attend a day long confined spaces course, a two day First-Aid/CPR/Defibrillator course, a one day safe trenching course, as well as an entire day in the office taking WHMS/CSTS/discussion with the safety guys, before I can start my summer job of surveying/CAD stuff.

It gets to a point where you can only protect somebody so much and leave the rest up to Darwinism.

ralph60 · 09-05-2007, 06:58 PM

^ The problem with Darwinism in the workplace is that everybody relies on everybody else.
I have attended hundreds of site specific safety orientations over the last few years, they are all virtually the same and they are all absolutely indispensible.
My crews all have CSTS, Confined Space, First Aid, H2S alive, and a few others that don't come to mind right now.
They also have daily safety "toolbox talks", weekly site meetings, they do Job Hazard Assesments, near miss reports, and an assortment of other safety tasks on a daily basis.
Our crews work at heights, in confined spaces, high temperatures, unstable structures, poison gas hazards, use heavy machinery and lift heavy loads as well as just about any other hazard you can imagine.
We have gone 8 years (well over a million manhours) without a lost time accident and went through 2006 without a recordable incident. (yes I'm bragging :P )
I know the courses you have to take seem excessive but the whole objective is for everybody to go home safe and healthy every day for their entire careers.
So pay attention at your classes, it really is worth it.

DebraW · 09-05-2007, 10:52 PM

^Ralph,

Great thing to be able to brag about!

(Good advice too, I have written safety manuals on these topics and in the course of research, I was amazed at some companies’ lackadaisical approach to safety.)

Lindsey is a smart guy who I am sure will listen and pay attention!

08-05-2007, 10:27 PM	#1
DebraW Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2006	Alberta workplaces score well for safety Alberta workplaces score well for safety Job-related deaths decline in 2006 to lowest level in 15 years Keith Gerein, edmontonjournal.com Published: Tuesday, May 08, 2007 Alberta scored one of its best performances in workplace safety in 2006, with the rate of job-related deaths declining to its lowest level in 15 years, new provincial statistics show. Government officials and injury specialists both hailed the results as good news, since the falling numbers come at a time when Alberta's workforce is rapidly expanding. Barrie Harrison, spokesman for Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry, said a culture of health and safety appears to be taking hold on job sites, thanks in part to long-term efforts to improve education. "It is good to see there is some payoff from the awareness and education that's been going on," he said. "But of course when there is even one workplace death, there's nothing to celebrate. Things are going in the right direction but there is a long road ahead." In total, there were 124 occupational deaths in Alberta last year - 33 of them involving motor vehicles, 27 workplace incidents, and 64 fatalities from job-related diseases. The list includes people who became injured or fell ill on the job years ago but didn't die until 2006. The 124 deaths was the same as in 2004. However, since Alberta had a bigger workforce in 2006, its workplace fatality rate is better. In fact, the 2006 rate -measured at 78 deaths per million person-years - is the best result since the current statistical methods were implemented in 1991. It should be noted that the government's numbers don't cover all workplace deaths, such as agricultural accidents and other cases outside WCB jurisdiction. --30--

09-05-2007, 05:23 PM	#2
LindseyT Addicted to C2E Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: City Of Champions	It's pretty amazing considering it seems like anybody who barely has basic motor skills from the rest of the country has come here. Myself, I'm getting paid to attend a day long confined spaces course, a two day First-Aid/CPR/Defibrillator course, a one day safe trenching course, as well as an entire day in the office taking WHMS/CSTS/discussion with the safety guys, before I can start my summer job of surveying/CAD stuff. It gets to a point where you can only protect somebody so much and leave the rest up to Darwinism. __________________ "the best social program is a job"

09-05-2007, 06:58 PM	#3
ralph60 Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: St. Albert	^ The problem with Darwinism in the workplace is that everybody relies on everybody else. I have attended hundreds of site specific safety orientations over the last few years, they are all virtually the same and they are all absolutely indispensible. My crews all have CSTS, Confined Space, First Aid, H2S alive, and a few others that don't come to mind right now. They also have daily safety "toolbox talks", weekly site meetings, they do Job Hazard Assesments, near miss reports, and an assortment of other safety tasks on a daily basis. Our crews work at heights, in confined spaces, high temperatures, unstable structures, poison gas hazards, use heavy machinery and lift heavy loads as well as just about any other hazard you can imagine. We have gone 8 years (well over a million manhours) without a lost time accident and went through 2006 without a recordable incident. (yes I'm bragging :P ) I know the courses you have to take seem excessive but the whole objective is for everybody to go home safe and healthy every day for their entire careers. So pay attention at your classes, it really is worth it.

09-05-2007, 10:52 PM	#4
DebraW Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2006	^Ralph, Great thing to be able to brag about! (Good advice too, I have written safety manuals on these topics and in the course of research, I was amazed at some companies’ lackadaisical approach to safety.) Lindsey is a smart guy who I am sure will listen and pay attention!