The Signal: WorkplaceNL's Health and Safety Podcast

An important part of occupational health is how work and the work environment can affect workers’ health. The provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act requires health surveillance when workers are exposed to particular workplace health hazards such as noise, silica, asbestos and lead. Health surveillance is a plan of repeated and ongoing health checks that can identify any health effects caused by work.

The physical benefits of regular movement and exercise in improving physical health have long been established. Healthcare professionals encourage us to stay active to improve and maintain good health. Exercise is also considered vital for maintaining mental fitness, and helps to reduce stress. Studies have shown that regular participation in aerobic activity decreases overall levels of tension, elevates and stabilizes emotions and moods, and improves sleep and self-esteem. Ryan Osborne, Kinesiologist and owner of Oz Coaching joins DeeAnne Feltham-Scott, OHS Educational Consultant to discuss how regular movement and exercise throughout the workday can help to manage daily stress.

Fatigue is a complex issue linked to many factors inside and outside the workplace. It can be a safety and health hazard for the fatigued person and a safety hazard for those who work around them. Fatigue is often caused by several interrelated factors which can be cumulative or build up over time to become hazardous. It is not just about lack of sleep, eating properly, working extended hours/shift work, or doing physically challenging work. We will explore all the factors that result in worker fatigue, and how employers and workers can manage it.

What we put into our bodies as fuel directly impacts our energy levels throughout the work day. Eating a nutritious and well-balanced diet with healthy foods gives our bodies the energy we need to be productive, motivated and better able to manage daily stressors. The best way to ensure you are getting the nutrition your body needs is to your nutrition for the work day which includes whole foods, fruits, vegetables, fermented foods, healthy fats and protein. This may sound challenging for our busy lives, but you don’t have to make big changes to your diet to see how healthy food can help you manage your stress levels. DeeAnne Feltham-Scott, OHS Educational Consultant, Prevention Services is joined by Amanda Janes, Registered Holistic Nutritionist and owner of Concept Nutrition to discuss how fueling your body with healthy food can help you manage stress that we encounter daily.

A person’s job and workplace should not harm their mental health. Employers identify and control psychological health hazards while workers tell them what they need to maintain good mental health in their jobs. Many employers and workers recognize this shared responsibility and work together to create and foster a psychologically safe workplace. Understanding the issues of mental health and having open and honest conversations about job tasks that can impact worker's mental health begins with a supportive culture. 

Cathy Barrett-Brinson, Senior Health and Safety Advisor, WorkplaceNL talks to Craig Smith, Fire Fighter, St. John's Regional Fire Department (SJRFD) about how they promote workers’ wellbeing and work together to control psychological risks and prevent harm.

Occupational health and safety legislation outlines general requirements for preparing and responding to workplace emergencies.  An emergency response plan prepares workplaces to deal with unforeseen situations such as fires, chemical spills, explosions, floods, injury, illness and other crises. Colin Fewer, OHS Educational Consultant - Youth and Aaron Jones, Industrial Hygienist of WorkplaceNL discuss the importance of having procedures that employers and workers follow in an emergency to ensure workplace safety and minimize property damage.

Do you sit for long periods? Is your computer setup making you uncomfortable? Join us as we discuss tips that you, as a worker, can do to achieve a more ergonomically friendly setup. This will help you feel more comfortable and productive at work, as well as reduce the risk of developing an MSI.

Supervisors are responsible for ensuring workers know about the hazards in their work and how to work safely. Join us as we discuss how this responsibility relates to MSI prevention, and identifying MSI risk factors in the workplace.

Building a five-minute pre-activity warm-up into your routine can help prevent strain or sprain injury. In this episode, Dr. Mike Wahl joins us to discuss how a proper warm-up prepares your body to face the physical demands of work. Employers are responsible for helping keep workers healthy and implementing a warm-up program as part of the job may be an effective risk mitigation measure for musculoskeletal injury for physical jobs.

Given the shift in Canada's demographics, conversations about diversity and inclusion in the workplace have become more mainstream. With the number of immigrants steadily increasing every year, these conversations of inclusion have become even more critical to make sure organizations are changing to include all workers. The characteristics of an inclusive environment are one where everyone feels included, supported, and embraced for who they are and for the unique qualities they bring to the team. How do you unlock the power that diversity, equity, and inclusion bring? It starts with a commitment to building a culture where everyone feels they belong. DeeAnne Feltham-Scott, OHS Educational Consultant welcomes Cary Majid, Executive Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission to discuss this important workplace topic.

Any injury that arises out of and in the course of a person's employment can be a potential worker's compensation claim. Employers and workers should know how to submit a claim, and what they should expect from the claim process. Join us as we discuss the lifecycle of a worker compensation claim and what employers and workers need to know.

Peer Support is an essential tool to have in your mental health toolbox for those experiencing mental health and addiction issues through sharing lived experiences. DeeAnne Feltham-Scott, OHS Educational Consultant, WorkplaceNL is joined by Meghan Riggs, Communications Officer, Lifewise, to discuss the basics of peer support and the process of becoming a trained peer supporter. Lifewise is the only provincial organization in Newfoundland & Labrador created by and for individuals with mental health and addiction issues. They exist to support and encourage individual recovery through self-determination while working to break the stigma surrounding these societal issues.

Workplace noise is one of the most common occupational health hazards in Newfoundland and Labrador. Workers who are exposed to noise that exceeds recommended levels without protection are placing themselves at risk for hearing loss. Brenda Greenslade, Executive Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Fish Harvesting Association, describes the prevalence of hearing loss in the fishing industry and the measures that are being taken to reduce noise levels. Amy Fitzpatrick, MadeSafe NL and DeeAnne Feltham-Scott, OHS Educational Consultant, WorkplaceNL interview Larry Pinksen who has been a Fish Harvester for 47 years and shares his story of living and working with the detrimental effects of hearing loss.

We make every possible effort to prevent incidents and injuries in the workplace, but we need to be prepared in case things don't go as planned. Prompt and effective rescue from work at heights and in confined spaces is a legislated requirement for employers in Newfoundland and Labrador who conduct those activities. It is critical that employers are prepared to respond effectively and efficiently to emergencies if they occur. Join us as we discuss rescue planning and what that means for employers with our guest Colin LeGrow with Technical Rope and Rescue.

Every provincially-regulated workplace in the province is required to have a Harassment Prevention Plan. There have been many questions from employers and workers on how to meet their legislative obligations in creating a workplace that is free from harassment. Lisa Kavanagh, WorkplaceNL and Linda Sagmeister, Occupational Health and Safety Division, Digital Government and Service NL,  answer some frequently asked questions on this topic.

Safety leadership and commitment is critical to the success of safety in the workplace.   In 2022, WorkplaceNL introduced the annual Safety Leadership Awards for Employers and Employees.  The Safety Leadership Awards recognize employers and workers who demonstrate leadership and a visible commitment to health and safety in workplaces in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Labatt Brewery NL was the inaugural winner of WorkplaceNL’s Safety Leadership Award for Employers, presented at our Learning Symposium in 2022.  Using a collaborative and cooperative approach to safety, Labatt Brewery NL uses workforce teamwork to keep everyone safe. Through hard work and innovation, they empower their workers to address safety issues, and have implemented programs and procedures that have positively resulted in a lost-time incidence rate well below the industry rate.

Join us as we discuss Safety Leadership and the success that Labatt Brewery is seeing.

The foundation of a psychologically healthy and safe workplace is respectful and clear communication that builds trust and meaningful interactions between employees. Workplaces should create a culture where everyone can feel comfortable sharing their ideas and concerns, including mental health in the workplace. The way we talk about mental health is powerful and can either prevent someone from talking about their mental health or prevent them from helping others. Let's make sure we use language that is based on respect, builds trust and collaboration, and enables positive interactions and relationships.

Employers, supervisors, and workers must understand their respective roles and responsibilities to create a healthy and safe workplace.  Join Sheri Philpott and DeeAnne Feltham-Scott as they discuss Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) responsibilities, the internal responsibility system, and due diligence.  

Move Well – Work Well Week is an annual event in Newfoundland and Labrador to raise awareness of MSIs and find practical solutions for prevention in workplaces.

Musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) are painful disorders of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, spinal discs, and related soft tissues. MSIs include repetitive strain and overexertion injuries like sprains, strains, and inflammation.

Move Well – Work Well reminds us that when we move often, rather than being sedentary or staying in one position too long, and when we move well, using good body mechanics, it results in us being well and working well – we are productive, comfortable, healthy, and our risk for MSI is reduced. Essentially, when we move well, we work well.

Chris Denine was 31 years old and working in building maintenance in Labrador in 2017 when he suffered a workplace injury. Since that time Chris has not been able to return to his pre-injury position, pre-injury employer, or pre-injury region. Following extensive rehabilitation, Chris participated in a Labour Market Re-entry screening, and eventually a full Labour Market Re-entry assessment. Chris successfully completed retraining in the Supply Chain Logistics program and is now employed full-time as a Supply Chain Coordinator in St. John’s. Chris and his wife, Heather share their powerful journey of living life to the fullest after a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

Mental health is a concern for working Canadians. 70% report that work impacts their mental health, and 78% report that poor mental health is the primary reason for missing work. Canadian employees report workplace stress as the leading cause of their mental health concerns. Burnout is described as emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and being ineffective and unproductive in the workplace caused by prolonged negative responses to stressful workplace conditions. There are various coping strategies that individuals can use to help manage daily stress in the workplace and at home.

Occupational health and safety committees (OHSC) are a group of employer and worker representatives who monitor worker health and safety in consultation with the employer. Join Jo-Ann Woodland and Valerie Ducey as they discuss practical ways to effectively engage members of the OHSC and the workplace to create a healthy and safe workplace. 

Serious injuries and fatalities are devastating to employees and workplaces and can have long-lasting effects. The Newfoundland and Labrador Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations require employers to report serious injuries and fatalities to the OHS Division. Employers, supervisors, and workers must understand their respective roles and responsibilities to prevent serious injuries and fatalities.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the support provided to a person who may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or a mental health crisis. The Mental Health Commission of Canada reports that one in every five Canadians experiences a mental health problem in any given year. We tend to know more about physical illness than we do about mental health or substance use problems.

This lack of understanding leads to negative attitudes of stigma toward people who live with these problems. It stops people from seeking help for themselves. When we don’t know that someone is having difficulty with their mental health, then that prevents us from being able to support them with what they need.

John Dinn is a certified Mental Health First Aid trainer in Newfoundland and Labrador. He is also employed by the Canadian Mental Health Association as the Workplace Mental Health Coordinator. He brings many years of experience in helping workplaces to develop into psychologically healthy and safe spaces for everyone.

Marked annually in Canada on April 28, the National Day of Mourning is dedicated to remembering those who have lost their lives or suffered injury or illness on the job or due to a work-related tragedy. The National Day of Mourning is not only a day to remember and honour those lives lost or injured due to a workplace tragedy, but also a day to collectively renew our commitment to improve health and safety in the workplace and prevent further injuries, illnesses and deaths.

The prevalence of harassment and violence in Canadian workplaces has led to changes in OHS legislation throughout the country, including Newfoundland and Labrador. There is growing evidence of the negative impacts these behaviours have on employees’ mental and physical health and safety, and the overall health of organizations and communities. Employers are responsible to find hazards that can lead to violence and harassment, and implement measures to create an environment that is safe and free of harassment.

Slips, trips and falls are common workplace injuries that can be prevented when properly controlled. Join us as we discuss provincial injury statistics, causes of slips, trips and falls; prevention strategies, and an important initiative aimed at the prevention of falls in the construction industry.

Mental health and physical health are equally important. As employers, there are many things that can be done to create a workplace that is psychologically healthy and safe for workers. And as workers who share the responsibility in workplace health and safety, there are also activities that can be done to support employers in creating a productive, efficient, and stress-reduced workplace.