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FROM THE EDITOR
around worker health and safety. around worker health and safety. around worker health and safety. around worker health and safety. around worker health and safety. around worker health and safety. around worker health and safety. around worker health and safety. around worker health and safety. around worker health and safety. around worker health and safety.
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2016
Expand lone worker laws
C
onvenience store workers have a much harder job than many of us realize. Not only do they have to deal with
the public (which in and of itself is challenging) but they often have to work alone. The dangers of this came
to light recently with two deaths at Mac's stores in Edmonton at the end of last year. (Read more on page 20.)
Robbers came into the store and held up the workers f or whatever cash was in the till. It goes without saying that
no one's life is worth whatever amount of cash was stolen, and these people are not paid enough to justify putting
their lives at risk. And in February, another Mac's store clerk sustained a serious head injury after an armed robbery.
I remember a few years ago when the owner of our local convenience store, Paul Kim, was stabbed and robbed. An
incident like this was a huge shock to the safe, family-focused neighbourhood in Toronto. The Kim family immigrated
from Korea in the early 2000s and the owners are like family to the community. When the store was shut down
for a few days, community members wrote messages of support and well wishes to the owner and taped them on
the front door. But hearing the tragedies out of Edmonton, I am grateful the outcome was not even worse for Kim.
In March, Alberta announced a three-month safety blitz of convenience stores and gas stations, and one issue on
the docket for inspectors is talking to employers and workers about working alone.
Unions are calling for enhanced work alone legislation in Alberta, which I would second. But at least Alberta has
work alone legislation. I was shocked to learn that Ontario, the country's most populated province, does not have
a work alone regulation. This, to me, is an oversight on the government's part. With the vast array of issues that can
happen in all industries when working alone, it shocks me that Ontario is not stepping up and creating specifi c
work alone rules. The government's website points to the Regulation for Industrial Establishments with regards to
working alone, saying it specifi es a minimum number of workers for some hazardous work such as working on live
electrical conductors. That's good news for electrical workers, but there are myriad other jobs — real estate agents,
security guards, taxi drivers, home care workers — who also work alone and need to be protected.
As a reader of COS, you have lots of ways to engage with us right now. First of all, we are launching our fi rst ever
Reader's Choice awards. We want you to vote for your preferred PPE suppliers, educational institutions, consultants,
technology, training providers and more. We believe that the third party validation of our readership provides win-
ners with a remarkable stamp of approval that identifi es them as the best of the best. Go to www.cos-mag.com/
readerschoice2016 to vote. Voting closes May 6.
We are also offi cially launching the search for the 2016 Safety Leader of the Year award. Now in its 11th year, the
award recognizes a deserving occupational health and safety professional who is a true trailblazer. The winner not
only appears on the cover of COS and is featured in a video, but he or she will accept the award at the Canada's
Safest Employers award gala on Oct. 24 in Toronto. This is the only award of the night that is given to an individual,
rather than an entire company. Nominations close July 6.
And of course we have our annual Canada's Safest Employers awards, where we recognize companies with out-
standing health and safety practices. The awards truly offer something for everyone — whether your company is a
retail store or a diamond mine, there is an award for it. We also have special awards to call out companies that go
beyond the traditional occupational health and safety portfolio, such as the Young Worker Safety award and the
Psychological Safety award. Nominations close June 1.
Amanda Silliker, Editor
amanda.silliker@thomsonreuters.com
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