Canadian Occupational Safety

April/May 2015 7 Sqwincher has officially taken hydration to the highest level with Professional Grade Hydration ™ . Only Sqwincher can handle the daily grind with the right mix of electrolytes and nutrients to keep workers hydrated, fueled and focused... AND IT TASTES GREAT! Want to learn more, contact us and we will show you how. THIS IS PROFESSIONAL GRADE HYDRATION. THIS IS SQWINCHER. www.dentecsafety.com 1.888.533.6832 Parliament passes law to protect transit workers from violence A private member's bill that will protect front-line transit operators from assault has received royal assent. Bill S-221 will amend the Crimi- nal Code to make it an "aggravated circumstance" that the judge must consider if the victim of an assault is a public transit operator, which is defi ned to include drivers of city and inter city buses, surface rail, school buses, taxis, ferries and subways. "Everyone should be safe at work," said Jerry Dias, national president of Unifor, Canada's largest private sector union. "Bus and taxi drivers provide a very valuable public service and they shouldn't have to face violence in their workplace." About 2,000 bus driver assaults are reported each year in Canada. In 2011, Canadian taxi drivers had the highest rate of occupational-related homicide in the country — higher than police offi cers. "Our members have been punched, slapped, kicked, strangled, stabbed and shot at, usually over a fare dispute," said Bob Kinnear, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113, which represents more than 10,000 transit workers in Toronto and York Region in Ontario. "We have had cases where bus drivers have been dragged out of their seats and viciously beaten, just for doing their jobs. Several of our members have been hurt so badly that they cannot return to work." While police and fi refi ghters have long had the additional protection of stiffer sentences for their assailants, transit drivers have not been afforded the same protection, so "it's about time," said Kinnear. "We are not armed and cannot protect ourselves, especially when we have the added respon- sibility of protecting the safety of passengers on our vehicles," he said. The amendments to the Criminal Code would include options for stiffer penalties for those convicted of assaulting drivers. "The impact on (the victims') families and industry as a whole is exacerbated by the light sentences the assailants have received in the past," said Mike Mahar, director of the Amal- gamated Transit Union Canadian Council. "When this bill becomes law, both the public and operators will feel safer." But these changes to the Criminal Code exclude employees who do not operate vehicles, such as station collectors — a disappointing oversight, according to Kinnear. Collectors have been threatened with guns and even shot and wounded. It was a collector, Jimmy Trajceski, who was stabbed to death while on the job at Victoria Park subway station in Toronto in 1995. Employers need to do more to support psychologically healthy workplaces: Survey O ne in three (33 per cent) Canadian employees are currently suffering or have previously suffered from a mental health condition, such as depression or an anxiety disorder, according to a survey by Morneau Shepell, a human resources consultancy. Another 27 per cent are experiencing signifi cant symptoms of stress, found the poll of 1,005 employees, 117 physicians and 100 employers. Nearly one-half (45 per cent) of workers have thought about leaving their job due to workplace stress and 58 per cent said stress has negatively impacted their productivity. At the same time, stress is keeping employees away from work. Almost one-third (31 per cent) have taken time off and one- quarter (25 per cent) have become ill in the last six months due to work-related stress. "Employers are beginning to understand that mental health is not the concern of a few, but an issue that impacts the workplace overall," said Alan Torrie, president and CEO of Morneau Shepell in Toronto. "There has been tremendous progress in the past few years in many workplaces, but there is still much to be done in our society and a long way to go to make all workplaces more psychologically healthy." The survey found 90 per cent of employees believe managing mental wellness is important for productivity, but only 56 per cent believe their organization supports mental wellness on the job. "Employees recognize the business value in a mentally healthy workplace. Workplace support is perceived as critical to how stress is viewed by employees, and its impact on them. This also impacts productivity and, ultimately, can infl uence the success of an organization," said Paula Allen, vice-president of research and integrative solutions at Morneau Shepell. Almost three-quarters (71 per cent) of employees expressed concern about workplace stigma around mental health. In many instances, employees are actually tougher on individuals with mental illness than their employers, and some signifi cantly negative attitudes toward mental illness remain prevalent, found Morneau Shepell. One in fi ve employees (19 per cent) believes that whether or not someone becomes mentally ill is fully within that individual's control (compared to 12 per cent of employers). When polled, almost every physician respondent (99 per cent) indicated that work problems have a role in the mental health issues they see on a regular basis. Similarly, 98 per cent said they believe the workplace has a role in worsening health. When asked what employers could do to foster psychologically healthy workplaces, the top recom- mendations from physicians were better workplace communication and social support, followed by the availability of counselling and guid- ance. They said these factors are more important for their patients than reduced workload or time off work. The unique Secure Fit Ratchet suspension features the only swiveling nape strap that provides unbelievable retention properties and stability. The hat stays on regardless of the wearer's position or how bad the weather is. We even have a glow-in-the-dark hat! • All ERB hard hats are certied to the latest CSA standard Z94.1. • Sits low on the nape of the neck for a better t. • Adjusts to 40 different head sizes: 6 1/2 - 8. • The ratchet housing is cushioned for more comfort. • Easy to adjust while wearing. Contact us to qualify for a FREE sample and FREE TRIAL offer! 1-888-533-6832 www.dentecsafety.com Claudio Dente, President Specializing in safety solutions Training Support Have you tried the unique Secure Fit Ratchet yet? ...nally comfort and t that will turn your head! entec.indd 2 13-04-17 12:37 PM

• Cover