Manitoba Heavy Construction Association

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2020 11 T raining for a new job means ensuring that workers are equipped with the skills needed to carry out the speci c tasks required of the position. It also means knowing how to perform those tasks in a safe and healthy manner. While everyone has a role to play when it comes to safety and health in the workplace, employers carry a greater responsibility, especially in those early days of employment. ey have the greatest degree of control and authority over the workplace. is requirement is especially important when it comes to young Manitobans, whose lack of work experience and hesitation to ask questions may put them at greater risk of being injured at work. I o en hear experienced workers or supervisors say "it's just common sense." When you consider the diversity of our workforce, it's hard to know what "common sense" means. Workers come with a diversity of age, work experience, life experience and familiarity with equipment and tools. When we say "it's just common sense," we make a dangerous assumption that could lead to a tragic injury or illness. e better assumption to make is that a new worker has no familiarity, but is willing to learn. Safe workers aren't born, they're trained. It's the theme of our most recent awareness campaign at SAFE Work Manitoba. No one is born with the innate skills needed to do a job – they must learn them. In the same way, working safely requires training. Where to get this training? Over the last several years, SAFE Work Manitoba has worked closely with its partners to support safety training for Manitobans who work in a variety of industries and locations. e development and expansion of industry-based safety programs has supplemented training from private providers, and increased the overall amount of safety and health training available. In 2019, almost 14,000 people attended training through SAFE Work Manitoba and our province's IBSPs, according to WCB data; this number continues to grow each year. In the heavy construction sector, the go-to source for industry-speci c training is the MHCA's WORKSAFELY™ program. SAFE Work Manitoba values its partnership with WORKSAFELY in ensuring the heavy construction industry is provided with relevant safety and health training. WORKSAFELY o ers courses that address the industry's speci c needs, such as training for ag persons, tra c control co-ordinators and excavation and trenching workers. It also o ers training on more general topics, including safety committee training, managing impairment at work and back injury prevention. Information about training opportunities is available on MHCA's website at http://mhcaworksafely.ca. Workshops suspended during COVID-19 pandemic As is the case for many organizations that o er training, MHCA WORKSAFELY and SAFE Work Manitoba have postponed workshops during the COVID-19 pandemic, in keeping with recommendations of Manitoba Health. e availability of workshops will be reassessed in line with health advisories, as the pandemic situation evolves. E-learning courses available While in-person workshops are on hold, online safety courses continue to be available on the SAFE Work Manitoba website. In fact, if your usual work schedule has changed, you may nd this an opportune time to complete some of these courses. SAFE Work Manitoba covers the cost of these courses through a partnership with the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. Courses cover a wide range of topics; among these are psychological health in the workplace; violence on the job and an overview of the Canada Labour Code (Part II). To see the full list of courses and to register, go to safemanitoba.com and click the Education tab. If you'd like more information about our latest campaign, click Resources, See All of Our Campaigns and SAFE Workers Aren't Born, ey're Trained. SAFE Work Manitoba, the prevention division of the WCB, is dedicated to preventing workplace injury and illness. Working with our partners in the safety community, we provide prevention education, safety programming, consulting and strategic direction to create a genuine culture of safety for all Manitobans. Sources of information on mental health • St. John Ambulance – mb.stjohntraining.ca • The Canadian Mental Health Association – mbwpg.cmha.ca • Manitoba Health – gov.mb.ca/health/mb/faq • Bell Let's Talk – letstalk.bell.ca/en/get-help • Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety – ccohs.ca/healthyminds/topics/mentalhealth M ental health illness is probably present in your workplace, too, and su erers are struggling silently. e Canadian Mental Health Association estimates 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental health issue or illness in any given year. In construction, mental illness could also be described as an invisible health hazard, unlike the usual risks in construction such as working around heavy equipment. Of the people you work with every day, chances are that at least one of them struggles with their mental health. It is imperative for employers to promote mental health in the workplace. To have a successful business, mental health is a key factor. In a recent major Canadian study,82%of responding organizations ranked mental health conditions in their top three causes of short term dis- ability (72% for long-term). Approxi- mately 30%of all short- and long-term disability claims are attributed to men- tal health problems and illnesses. But, how should you as an employer start to address mental health issues in your workplace? Bryan Wall, Manager of Business Development of St. John Ambulance advises that it is important to think about the culture and norms of your organization and assess whether they are supportive of mental health. "Instead of assuming that mental illness is a strange and rareoccurrence, we need to recognize that just like physical health, we all have times where we are mentally healthy, and times when we aren't at our best," says Wall. How does your organization respond to people who are not functioning at their best? Simply opening up this conversation with employees is a great start, and being open to what people have to share about their needs and what would help create a more healthy environment can help you create an action plan. Once employers accept that mental illness is an issue to be dealt with, it becomes easier to identify the signs of a mental health issue through a worker's behaviour. Look for high incidents of injury or self-reported pain. Statistics suggest nearly nine per cent of construction workers are already su ering from depression, so look for increased lateness, absenteeism, and medical leaves. Reduced productivity is another indicator — some call it "presenteeism", or showing up for work but not functioning e ectively. "It's important to remember that di erent people can experience mental illness in many di erent ways," states Wall. "In general, a change in someone's behavior and mood can be a sign. But sometimes people are really struggling, and don't show a lot of signs externally. It's important to have ongoing conversations about mental health so that people feel that they can talk about what is going on for them without fear of judgment.Stigma about mental health is o en the biggest barrier to people getting the support theyneed." DETECTING AND ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR WORKPLACES Jackie Jones is an education and training advisor at MHCA's WORKSAFELY program Jamie Hall is the Chief Operating O cer for SAFE Work Manitoba B Y J A C K I E J O N E S On the worksite, as an employer or a co-worker, you can be helpful in understanding mental illness and reaching out when someone you know is affected. • Ask if and how you can help • Continue to include the person in usual workplace activities • Depending on the relationship, keep in touch with a co-worker who has taken time off • When a co-worker returns to work, welcome them back and don't avoid them • Advocate for healthy workplaces and help bring awareness to the topic of mental health e good news is that mental illnesses can be treated. With treatment, most of individuals with mental illnesses see improvement. Recognizing early symptoms or problems ensures that resources and referrals can be suggested. Mental Health First Aid is a training course designed to give members of the public the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. e evidence behind the program demonstrates that it builds mental health literacy, decreases stigmatizing attitudes, and helps individuals identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness. SAFE WORKERS AREN'T BORN – THEY'RE TRAINED

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