Workplace Safety

Last week MySafeWork had an the great opportunity to joining with Dibrina Sure to bring the message of safety to 4000 students in the Sudbury ON area.

On Wednesday morning Students filled the Memorial Arena, a place where they usually go to watch the Sudbury Wolves play, to learn about career opportunities, while interacting with local business and union leaders.

Take this quick test of knowledge:

What type of injury causes almost HALF of all injuries in which workers need to take time off work in Ontario?

OK, so what did you think?...

Motor accidents (including forklifts, ATVs, pickup trucks, etc.)?

Burns from occupational fire hazards?

Electricity-related accidents?

Falls from heights - like in construction?

Wrong, on all accounts...

The single greatest number of work-related injuries that require time off are, in fact, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

Take a quick poll and see where you "stand" next to others when it comes to footwear in the shop... a cute blog, Tom's Workshop, offers this poll, and so far, 45% of poll takers indicate they wear sneakers or athletic shoes in the workshop. Problem? What do you think?

Tom writes: "we often overlook one very important part of shop safety - what we’re wearing on our feet.  There are lots of hazards that could affect us down there - from dropped objects to stepping on sharp items.  And then there’s the slipping hazards, splashed chemicals and other concerns."

Got safety gear? How about you... [here's a thought].. wear it!?! I read an almost unbelievable statistic today: 89 percent of safety professionals polled at the 2008 National Safety Council Congress have observed workers failing to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when they should have been.

I love loud talkers in cafes; their conversations, although not usually very exciting, are at least entertaining -  especially when you need a break from  working... it’s like a little vacation in the midst of a busy day.