NAOSH Week

New Flyer Industries and Motor Coach Industries have always been a proud supporter of NAOSH week and we understand the vital importance of providing a happy and collaborative work environment that champions safety and health in all parts of our business. Training, developing and motivating everyone to promote and pursue safety and health excellence helps us all to build terrific habits and attitudes within our company -- and at home and in our communities. AT NEW FLYER AND MCI, SAFETY TAKES THE DRIVER'S SEAT Reliability Driven Safety glasses and steel-toed boots are important parts of workplace safety, but a healthy environment requires more than just protective equipment. Occupational safety and health applies to everyone in every workplace, regardless of their role. At SAFE Work Manitoba, chief operating officer Jamie Hall stresses the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) as one part of a comprehensive safety program. "When you think of safety, you often think of a hard hat, safety glasses, work boots or a high-visibility vest. Those are all PPE, but they are often intended to be the last defence against injury," he says. "There are other parts to a safety program in addition to the protective equipment. Some of that might be the design of the workplace and the way tools are used to prevent exposure to a risk or hazard." It's also important to develop safe work procedures that are efficient and productive — and to train employees to follow them consistently. Any workplace with more than 20 employees is required to have a safety and health committee with representation from employees and management, Hall adds. "Workers can share their experience and first-hand knowledge about the hazards they face," he says. "Then management wants to ensure that they reduce the likelihood of one of the people they're responsible for getting hurt." In general, it makes good business sense to manage safety. In early 2017, SAFE Work Manitoba launched a certification program called SAFE Work Certified as a path to a safer work environment. "Successful companies are also companies that look after their workers," Hall says. "Their safety is one of the most important things to consider." For Terry Shaw, executive director of the Manitoba Trucking Association, the need for a safe work environment applies to workers in all areas of a company. "When people think about our industry, they primarily think of the truck drivers. They are the largest component of the trucking industry, but we also have our maintenance staff who are working on heavy vehicles and trailers," he says. "We've got dock staff, yard staff and office staff, and there are safety considerations that they need to be aware of as well." The RPM (Risk, Professionally Managed) Trucking Industry Safety Program aims to share best practices and provide opportunities for education. Local transportation company Jade Transport is the first Manitoba trucking company to become SAFE Work Certified by RPM. "It's all about sharing good practices, providing education, critiquing or acting as a second set of eyes on companies' occupational safety and health programs," Shaw says. With approximately 1,800 employees across the province, Manitoba Public Insurance is in the business of safety. Chris Downey, director of organizational development, says the organization aims to create a culture where safety is top of mind. "It's a priority at MPI because our employees are our most valuable resource. Workplace injury or illness impacts the corporation as a whole," he says. "When our people are safe and healthy, our business is whole and healthy as well." Some employees use personal protective equipment such as high- visibility clothing, safety glasses and hearing protection, but this equipment is often considered the last form of control. "We adhere to our requirements for wearing personal protective wear but we don't view that as the sole protection for the employees," Downey says. "We work with employees to control hazards and risks in their work environment." MPI aims to make safety a priority in its workplace and on the road for all Manitobans. "We focus on prevention to make sure that people are safe on our roadways, and that is not unlike our approach to workplace safety," he says. "Our approach is to continually raise awareness by encouraging staff to make safety and health a habit by incorporating it into everyday organizational culture. We want it to be part of how they operate. We focus a lot on shaping the employee experience, and health is a big part of that." 07 L-R: JAMIE HALL, COO OF SAFE WORK MANITOBA, MORGAN MINTER, SAFETY PROGRAM ADVISER WITH RPM TRUCKING INDUSTRY SAFETY, TANYA KUTCHER AND SHELDON JONASSON FROM JADE TRANSPORT LTD. AT THE RPM SAFE WORK CERTIFIED CERTIFICATE PRESENTATION CEREMONY FOR JADE TRANSPORT AT THE MANITOBA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION'S 85TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND GALA ON APRIL 7. SUBMITTED PHOTO SAFE WORK SO MUCH MORE THAN HARD HATS BY JENNIFER MCFEE Occupational Health and Safety Week: Health and Safety in the workplace affects everyone. Matt Wiebe MLA for Concordia 204-654-1857 MattWiebe.ca Andrew Swan MLA for Minto 204-783-9860 AndrewSwan.ca Greg Selinger MLA for St. Boniface 204-237-9247 GregSelinger.ca Tom Lindsey MLA for Flin Flon 204-687-3246 TomLindsey.ca Flor Marcelino MLA for Logan 204-788-0800 FlorMarcelino.ca Ted Marcelino MLA for Tyndall Park 204-421-9493 TedMarcelino.ca James Allum MLA for Fort Garry-Riverview 204-475-2270 JamesAllum.ca Rob Altemeyer MLA for Wolseley 204-775-8575 RobAltemeyer.ca Jim Maloway MLA for Elmwood 2 2 1 1 - 5 1 4 - 4 0 2 JimMaloway.ca Nahanni Fontaine MLA for St. Johns 204-582-1550 NahanniFontaine.ca Amanda Lathlin MLA for The Pas 204-623-2034 AmandaLathlin.ca

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