Safe + Secure: October 2021

Ergonomics: Preventing the Most Common Workplace Injuries

Two-thirds of all serious injuries we see at the WCB are sprains, strains or over-exertions. Most of these injuries could have been prevented with simple adjustments – that’s the power of ergonomics.

During October - Global Ergonomics Month – check out these great resources that can help you prevent these injuries in your workplace, starting right away. And don’t miss our webinar later this week.

Safe Work Design Resources:

Inspection Checklist and Discomfort Survey

When is the last time you assessed the ergonomic hazards in your workplace? Use our inspection checklist and discomfort survey to take a closer look at the tasks and setups that may be posing risks in your workplace, and make improvements before it becomes an injury.

Office Ergonomics Resource Guide

Whether you’re still working from home or heading back into the office, chances are, it’s time to make sure your desk setup is following best ergonomic practices. Use our office ergonomics resource guide to check every angle of your workspace, and set yourself up for long-term success.

Tips by Industry

No matter which industry you work in, the tasks you perform pose ergonomic hazards if they’re not being done correctly. Our MSI tip sheets outline the specific hazards and controls for common tasks in industries such as trucking, health care, construction and more.

Employer Webinar this Thursday: Sign up Today

Thursday, October 14

1 – 2 p.m., ADT

Join WCB Nova Scotia’s ergonomist Shawn Budden for a free webinar on preventing sprain and strain injuries in your workplace. He’ll use our MSI Prevention Guide to teach you how to build awareness, identify hazards, assess risk, implement controls, provide training and measure the effectiveness of your action plan.

Learn more and register

2020 Annual Report: A Financial Milestone is achieved

After decades of being underfunded – meaning more benefits were owed to workers and their families into the future than the value of the assets available – WCB Nova Scotia marked the end of 2020 with a funded ratio of 102.9 per cent. This major milestone and new funding reality, which was shared in the organization’s annual report last week, is a corner of optimism, as we serve workers and employers in an overall economy that will be defined by possibility and renewal.

The 2020 Annual Report also recaps operational highlights, including the challenge of creating healthy, safe returns to the workplace following injury, and tells the story of workplace fatalities which reached a tragic high last year of 32. WCB’s injury and fatality statistics were released earlier this year. Learn more.

COVID-19: What Phase 5 Means for Nova Scotia’s Workplaces

Effective Monday, October 4, Nova Scotia officially moved into Phase 5 of the province’s reopening plan, with many health and safety protocols still in place amid rising case counts from the Delta variant. Learn more about your responsibilities as a workplace to protect both your employees and those you serve.

Don’t forget: You can access the WCB’s free COVID-19 resources including posters, videos, digital downloads and much more.

October Workplace Safety Awareness Opportunities

In addition to ergonomics, October is also dedicated to awareness for many other topics that are great opportunities to talk about occupational health and safety. Check out the list of some of them below, and think about how you might highlight these resources in your own workplace.

Healthy Workplace Month

Healthy workplaces prioritize the mental and physical wellbeing of their employees above all else. Visit CCOHS’s Healthy Workplace Month resource hub to learn more.

Learn more

Continuing Care Month

Our Point of Care Assessment Tools are designed to help health care workers protect themselves from the diverse range of workplace safety hazards they encounter on a daily basis.

Learn more

Small Business Week

October 17 – 23

Our Small Business Safety Toolkit will help you put a health and safety system in place to protect your workers and yourself from injury and illness at work.

Learn more

Return-to-Work Spotlight: Transitional Duties

DID YOU KNOW workers who stay connected to their workplace after an injury have faster recoveries, improved mental health and wellbeing, and better outcomes overall? Depending on the nature of the injury, returning to work with transitional duties as soon as possible should be a part of your return-to-work plan.

For Workers

Learn more about transitional duties and how they can help you on your path to recovery. Talk to your employer about your options to work to well.

For Employers

Read our Transitional Duties Overview tip sheet for at-a-glance details on transitional duties, and why you should have them in place before a workplace injury occurs.

WCB Nova Scotia Operational Updates

WCB Nova Scotia Transitioning to Hybrid Work Model

After more than a year and a half of working in a mix of at-home and on-site scenarios, WCB Nova Scotia will be moving to a hybrid working model for the longer term.