Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/305415
C M Y K winnipegfreepress.com 3 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, MAY 1, 2014 By Roger Currie For the Free Press C ontests, barbecues and training exercises are among the NAOSH Week events health and safety professionals have planned at workplaces such as Motor Coach Industries, Red River College and Palliser Furniture. Motor Coach Industries has been manufacturing intercity buses since 1933, and Manitoba workers have been a vital part of the MCI story. Making sure they're safe is a focus of activities coordinated by David Mirosh, project manager of facilities at the company's Clarence Avenue plant, and Jeff Philpott, who joined MCI earlier this year as manager of health, safety and environment. Philpott says he's excited about MCI's NAOSH Week programming. "In addition to our Manitoba plant, we'll be busy at MCI's facilities in Quebec and at several locations in the U.S. Our employees are quite involved in the Spot The Hazard program run by SAFE Work Manitoba." Plans are moving ahead to develop mock situations that more effectively challenge company employees to eliminate potential problems. During a similar effort last year, Philpott says employees quickly spotted all the obvious hazards, and then went on to recognize others that had been missed over the years. The company is once again running a colouring contest for children and grandchildren of MCI's 1,500 employees. Kids are encouraged to create posters with a safety theme, and everyone who participates will receive a prize. Some of the posters will be selected for inclusion in the company's calendar. "In our manufacturing facilities we're providing safety videos and drill training. We're also introducing a welding simulator, and we're planning a similar program to enhance safety in the painting of MCI's buses," Philpott says. The company is also adding a new program to train employees more thoroughly on proper techniques for using fire extinguishers. The Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service is helping with that effort. Fire extinguisher training is also a focus during NAOSH Week at Palliser Furniture. As well, employees will receive a home safety and fire preparation safety plan to take home on Friday, May 9. Those who return a completed plan on Monday, May 12 will be entered into a draw for a prize. Along with morning safety alerts, Palliser will focus on a different health and safety topic each day, including back safety, personal protective equipment and mock accident investigation. Office staff will have an ergonomics day during which they'll set up their work stations, including computer keyboards and monitors, to be ergonomically correct. And one day is devoted to diabetes awareness. MCI's Philpott says his company also recognizes that health and wellness are vital components in a safe and productive workplace. "There are quite a number of resources that we make available to our employees on diet and exercise," he says. "We're also setting up equipment for employees to monitor their blood pressure regularly. We hope to soon have regular visits to our workplaces by professionals such as dieticians and chiropractors." Since Emergency Preparedness Week coincides with NAOSH Week, many companies are incorporating activities related to emergency plans. Red River College will have display cabinets containing preparedness information such as fire safety and evacuation plans. The Exchange District campus will also have booths where employees can check out displays from SAFE Hospitality, Acklands Grainger and other organizations that provide protective gear, training and information. RRC's four safety committees are holding barbecues at the Exchange District and Notre Dame campuses, as well as the Stevenson Aviation campuses in Winnipeg and Southport. Jason McMaster, manager of environmental health and safety services, says the barbecues are priced to please to encourage employees to come out and meet committee members. "One of the roles of the safety committee is to promote health and safety in the workplace. Our committees are really active and care a lot," he says. There's a contest in which employees who identify the Automated External Defibrillator located closest to their work station can win a prize. And RRC is adding a social media twist to its NAOSH Week slate with a Safety Selfie contest. Staff and students don protective gear — anything from safety glasses or brightly coloured visibility vests to welding masks — and submit a selfie to win prizes. McMaster says groundskeeping staff and other workers have already had fun submitting sample selfies for posters. "Safety is pretty serious all the time, so if we can have fun with it that helps too," he says. Once NAOSH Week ends, health and safety committees and managers don't rest on their laurels. Motor Coach Industries' Philpott says it's important to have goals, and in 2014, MCI would like to see a reduction of at least 10% in the overall number of workplace accidents. "NAOSH Week activities are useful in reinforcing the mindset, but throughout the course of the year we need to remember to emphasize safety," he says. " We have to be thinking about safety 365 days a year." Safety is everybody's Business Organizations mark NAOSH Week with workplace activities Safety Selfie! us your Show Submit a "Safety Selfie" depicting your Personal Protective Equipment. Show how you make safety a habit – by preventing injury and illness in the workplace, at home and in the community. Winning submissions will be displayed outside the NDC Library, and at rrc.ca/naosh2014. May 4-10, 2014 North American Occupational Safety and Health NAOSH WEEK Submit individual or group/class entries for a chance to win a $200 Home Depot gift card and other great prizes. Contest closes May 2, 2014 NAOSH Week is led by the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering. For more info, see naosh.ca Email submissions to safety@rrc.ca Drew Caldwell MLAforBrandonEast 204-727-8734 DrewCaldwell.ca Eric Robinson MLAforKewatinook 204-943-2274 Eric-Robinson.ca Jennifer Howard MLAforFortRouge 204-946-0272 JenniferHoward.ca Greg Dewar MLAforSelkirk 204-482-7066 1-855-695-1361 GregDewar.ca Dave Gaudreau MLAforSt.Norbert 204-261-1794 DaveGaudreau.ca Stan Struthers MLAforDauphin 204-622-7630 StanStruthers.ca Erin Selby MLAforSouthdale 204-253-3918 ErinSelby.ca Flor Marcelino MLAforLogan 204-788-0800 FlorMarcelino.ca Peter Bjornson MLAforGimli 204-642-4977 1-866-253-0255 PeterBjornson.ca Melanie Wight MLAforBurrows 204-421-9414 MelanieWight.ca Matt Wiebe MLAforConcordia 204-654-1857 MattWiebe.ca Kevin Chief MLAforPointDouglas 204-421-9126 KevinChief.ca Clarence Pettersen MLAforFlinFlon 204-687-3367 ClarencePettersen.ca Kerri Irvin-Ross MLAforFortRichmond 204-475-9433 KerriIrvinRoss.ca Bidhu Jha MLAforRadisson 204-222-0074 BidhuJha.ca Andrew Swan MLAforMinto 204-783-9860 AndrewSwan.ca Sharon Blady MLAforKirkfieldPark 204-832-2318 SharonBlady.ca Erna Braun MLAforRossmere 204-667-7244 ErnaBraun.ca Greg Selinger MLAforSt.Boniface PremierofManitoba 204-237-9247 GregSelinger.ca Ron Kostyshyn MLAforSwanRiver 204-734-4900 RonKostyshyn.ca Jim Maloway MLAforElmwood 204-415-1122 JimMaloway. YourManitoba.ca Theresa Oswald MLAforSeineRiver 204-255-7840 TheresaOswald.ca Dave Chomiak MLAforKildonan 204-334-5060 DaveChomiak.ca Deanne Crothers MLAforSt.James 204-415-0883 DeanneCrothers.ca Mohinder Saran MLAforTheMaples 204-632-7933 MohinderSaran.ca James Allum MLAforFort Garry-Riverview 204-475-2270 JamesAllum.ca Nancy Allan MLAforSt.Vital 204-237-8771 NancyAllan.ca Gord Mackintosh MLAforSt.Johns 204-582-1550 GordMackintosh.ca Health andSafety inthe workplaceaffectseveryone!