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Labour Day – Why Do We Celebrate?

Posted in: Workplace | Posted by Rebecca Ingram on September 2, 2015

Monday, September 7th, is Labour Day in Canada, a statutory holiday commonly associated with the end of summer, the last long weekend of the season, the day before school starts and a kind of mini New Year’s to start fresh and revisit those resolutions made nine months previously. But somewhere along the line we have lost sight of how Labour Day came about, what it means and why its celebrated. Although Labour Day has evolved into just another long weekend marking the end of summer holidays, it is an annual holiday celebrating the achievements of workers. Its origins can be traced to the labour union movement, specifically the 8 hour day movement, which advocated eight hours of work, eight hours of recreation and eight hours of rest per day. Labour Day is observed around the world by countries on different dates — many link to International Workers’ Day on May […]

Stand Up, Sit Down, Fight.

Posted in: Safety,Workplace | Posted by Rebecca Ingram on August 25, 2015

We sit to eat, we sit to drive the car, we sit at our desks to work, we sit to watch tv, we sit watch movies, we sit to watch sports, we sit to play video games, we sit to use computers, tablets and cell phones. No wonder there is growing concern regarding hazards and health risks of a sedentary lifestyle. Be it at work, rest or play, the reality is that society as a whole is spending more time sitting down then up on their feet. This is seen in the rise of obesity rates in Canada, the US and other industrialized countries, as well as an increase in health related issues such as heart disease, diabetes and hypertension among that same group. Sitting has been likened to the new smoking or the new cancer, in terms of health risks. The solution, some experts say, is to adapt a […]

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) – The White Collar Injury

Posted in: Safety | Posted by Rebecca Ingram on August 10, 2015

Worker’s Compensation isn’t just for labourers or anyone working in  hazardous industries that are subject to physical injuries like broken bones, back sprains, muscle strains and industrial fatalities. Over time, WCB coverage has become much more comprehensive and now, depending on the jurisdiction, up to 90% of the workforce is covered — including office workers, and the injuries associated with their employment. Since the 1970’s, the incidence of white collar accidents or injuries has been steadily increasing — most notably with the advancement of technology and the introduction of digital equipment like computers. The impact is seen in an increase in the number of acceptable WCB claims related to musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) or repetitive strain injuries (RSI) . These injuries account for approximately ⅓ of workers compensation paid out in the US and Australia and affect nearly 30% of all workers. Epicondylitis, tendinosis, tendinitis, tenosynovitis and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) […]

Understanding WCB Employer Surplus Rebates

Posted in: Claims Costs,WCB Premium Reduction | Posted by Rebecca Ingram on June 30, 2015

On June 12th, 2015, the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) of Saskatchewan announced that they would be refunding $114 million to employers, this follows a May 11, 2015 press release by the Alberta WCB stating that they would be refunding over $500 million due to a declared surplus in their funding. Essentially, they are issuing a rebate on premiums previously paid, which makes one wonder – why? Have they been caught with their hands in the proverbial cookie jar, lining their pockets at the expense of hard working businesses? Are they so poorly mismanaged that they were unaware how much money they had? If they are handing money back, why not just lower premiums? Are injured workers suffering because money that could provide benefits is being returned to their employer? There is no short answer and in order to understand the rationale, you first need to understand the WCB, why it […]

The Perils of the Seasonal Worker

Posted in: Safety | Posted by Rebecca Ingram on June 19, 2015

The summer is almost upon us! It’s a time of sunshine, warm weather, vacations, festivals, exhibitions, concerts, Stampede, landscaping, outdoor activities and, of course, construction. It’s also the height of the seasonal workers employment period whether it is extra staff to handle the peak traffic at resorts, camp counsellors, summer students to cover vacations, special event workers or extra hires to complete construction and other projects while the weather remains favourable. With the hire of new employees, whether permanent, temporary or seasonal, safety in the workplace should be an integral part of the onboarding process and ongoing operations. Every season comes with its own unique set of safety issues and concerns that need to be adhered to in order to prevent or minimize workplace injuries and accidents. Greater Risks for New Hires A recent study by the Institution for Work & Health(IWH), based on research over a 10 year period, […]

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