How firefighters can cut their cancer risk There’s a lot we don’t fully understand about firefighter cancer, but we know this for sure: Firefighter cancer diagnoses and deaths have been rising in Saskatchewan. So how can volunteer and career firefighters reduce their cancer risk? To find out, WorkSafe Saskatchewan partnered with Jim Burneka Jr., founder of Firefighter Cancer Consultants, who toured and inspected 15 fire stations in the province last winter and interviewed their staff. Burneka Jr. identified several ways the fire stations (representing eight departments) can step up their cancer prevention efforts. Some of these measures, the “low-hanging fruit,” have minimal or no cost and are relatively easy for firefighters to do. They include: Decontaminating gear at the fire scene. Firefighters can use the fire hose to spray down their colleagues. “Water alone takes off 42 per cent of contaminants from the outer layer of fire gear,” says [...]

WorkSafe Sask. announces Youth Video Contest winners Regina, SK –WorkSafe Saskatchewan is pleased to announce the winners of the 2019 Youth Video Contest. Saskatchewan students in Grade 9 to 12 were invited to create a two-minute video with the theme, “Focus on Safety” to help students learn more about workplace safety. The 2019 Youth Video Contest winners are: First place: It Doesn’t Just Affect You by Rajesh Rodney, Jack Andrew, Greg Boechler and Ali Asim (teacher Samantha Roberts), Aden Bowman Collegiate, Saskatoon Second place: Work Safety Video – Communications Media by Lorez Cossette and Maddison Landrie (teacher Scott Wicker), Central Collegiate Institute, Moose Jaw Third place: A Test of Focus by Nicole Steinley, Jenna Sloman and Lucas Friesen (teacher Lisa Bender), Swift Current Comprehensive High School, Swift Current This year, WorkSafe received 42 entries from 14 schools across the province. Entries were judged on their technical merit, adherence to safety regulations, creativity and overall [...]

WorkSafe Sask. addresses increase in firefighter occupational cancer diagnoses and deaths Moose Jaw, SK – In 2018, firefighter cancer was the second leading cause of occupational disease-related fatalities in the province, accounting for 30 per cent of all workplace deaths related to occupational disease. In response, WorkSafe Saskatchewan commissioned a pilot program to gain a better understanding of the current firefighter preventive landscape throughout the province. Findings from the program were presented today at the Saskatchewan Association of Fire Chiefs’ annual convention in Moose Jaw. “The rise in firefighter cancer diagnosis is quite concerning,” said Kevin Mooney, Director of Prevention at the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB). “At WorkSafe, we saw a need to help both volunteer and career firefighters reduce their risk of being diagnosed with a job-related occupational disease.” Working with Jim Burneka Jr., Founder, Firefighter Cancer Consultants, LLC, WorkSafe developed a pilot program in collaboration with several [...]

2019 Safe Worker and Safe Employer Awards presented Saskatoon, SK: Today, WorkSafe Saskatchewan presented the 2019 Safe Worker and Safe Employer Awards in Saskatoon as part of the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board’s annual Compensation Institute. 2019 Safe Worker Award WorkSafe Saskatchewan presents the Safe Worker award to a worker who goes beyond the expectations of their position to help create a safer workplace. The 2019 WorkSafe Saskatchewan Safe Worker award winner is Darrell Wingerak of BASF Agriculture Specialities Ltd. in Saskatoon. Darrell Wingerak is a safety leader and role model on the BASF worksite. In addition to co-chairing the OH&S Committee, Darrell has made a number of recommendations to minimize injuries on the worksite. These include improving the mezzanine railing system, identifying visual hazards from glare, correcting damaged door sweeps, tool storage, improving housekeeping and adding bump protection to site fume hoods. Most recently, he brought in a new tool [...]

WorkSafe offers training tools for Sask. employers to create psychologically healthy workplaces The WCB has seen a 75 per cent increase in the number of mental health claims Regina, SK – Over the last three years, the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) has seen a 75 per cent increase in the number of mental health claims accepted. WorkSafe Saskatchewan is working to educate workers and employers on how to create safe and healthy workplaces. WorkSafe has a suite of psychological health and safety courses available on the WorkSafe website that the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) developed to help educate workers, supervisors and managers. In addition, employers are encouraged to take advantage of new resources made available to help create psychologically healthy work environments for their employees. “The increase in the number of mental health claims suggests a real need in our province,” said Kevin Mooney, Director [...]

WorkSafe Sask. connects employers with psychological health expertise Saskatoon, SK – Over the last three years, the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) has seen a 75 per cent increase in mental health claims accepted. In response, WorkSafe Saskatchewan is hosting a one-day learning event for employers, human resource professionals and mental health experts in Saskatoon to bring awareness to psychological health and safety in the workplace. With over 325 attendees registered, today’s event features mental health experts from both industry and academia. “While psychological claims only equate to a small percentage of all workplace injury claims accepted, the increase in the rate of acceptance is concerning,” said Kevin Mooney, Director of Prevention at the WCB. “The response to our learning event shows the need with employers to offer resources of this nature.” During the morning session, Dr. Rakesh Jetly, Head of the Centre of Excellence in Mental Health, will deliver [...]

WorkSafe Sask., University of Fredericton partner to support workplace psychological health Regina, SK – The Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) and the University of Fredericton (UFred) have signed a partnership agreement to increase access to training and resources for Saskatchewan employers to create psychologically healthy workplaces. Over the last three years, the WCB has seen a 75 per cent increase in the number of psychological claims accepted. While psychological claims only equate to a small percentage of all workplace injury claims accepted, the increase in the rate of acceptance is concerning. “At WorkSafe Saskatchewan, we saw a need to provide employers with additional resources to help them create a psychologically healthy work environment for employees,” said Kevin Mooney, Director of Prevention at the WCB. “The expertise of the University of Fredericton faculty and the training courses made available will be invaluable to Saskatchewan employers.” Through its partnership with UFred, Saskatchewan [...]

WCB and WorkSafe Saskatchewan building injury prevention research capacity Regina, SK – As part of ongoing efforts to reduce injuries and fatalities in the province, the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) is undertaking steps to strengthen ties between researchers and Saskatchewan’s primary injury prevention partners – WorkSafe Saskatchewan, the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety (LRWS), research institutions and industry safety associations. As WorkSafe works to build safety research capacity in Saskatchewan, Dr. Sean Tucker has joined WorkSafe as the Associate Director of Research. “Dr. Tucker’s abundant experience in health and safety research will be a great asset in his new role,” said Phil Germain, Vice-President of Prevention at the WCB. “Sadly, workplace fatalities are higher this year than we’ve seen in the past few years. There is no single cause for this, which is why it’s so important for us to work together to find solutions.” Tucker has [...]