One B.C. teacher describes how his students — and his school — have benefited from participating in WorkSafeBC’s student video contest every year. Ryan Radford is the video and media teacher at Walnut Grove Secondary School in Langley, B.C. During the past few years, students at Walnut Grove have won numerous awards for their submissions […]
UBC graduate Nicole Boeder shares with me about being awarded for her work in occupational hygiene and what it’s like to be a safety advisor at the airport. Recently I was “speaking of safety” with occupational hygienist Nicole Boeder. In 2017, she won the first-ever Roberta Ellis Award for Excellence in the Study and Practice […]
A new research study looks at the connection between being on your feet for long periods and painful foot conditions — something I know all too well. Plantar fasciitis (PF) is an inflammation of the “plantar fascia,” a thick band of tissue that connects the heel to the toes — and I have first-hand knowledge […]
Shawn Michaels has seen many chainsaw injuries during his work life. Now, he’s designing a safety jacket that protects arborists against chainsaw blades. “I think this is likely the safest jacket on the planet,” says Shawn Michaels, an arborist and technical apparel student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU). He’s referring to the Kevlar safety jacket […]
Bike to Work Week celebrates cycling and encourages people to start new commuting habits. A cycling instructor shares advice for keeping safe on the roads. People around B.C. are gearing up for Bike to Work Week (May 27 to June 2). Riders sign up, form teams with coworkers, and visit “Celebration Stations” for free snacks, […]
I visit many places online when I’m looking for ideas about what to write for this blog. One great source is WorkSafeBC’s monthly Health and Safety Enews. Since this blog began in 2010, I’ve talked about health and safety with hundreds of people in different industries. Many of their stories will stay with me forever. […]
New videos explore what motivates agriculture workers to make safe choices. One reason, beyond rules and regulations, is having family who rely on you. Reg Steward has had many opportunities to learn about what motivates people to work safely. For the past 18 years, he’s worked with AgSafe, the health and safety association for B.C.’s […]
“If I could save another person from drowning … I’ll be so happy.” Survivors speak out with hope in new WorkSafeBC video to keep others safe on the water. Wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) could have made all the difference. That’s the message in Turning the Tide: PFDs in the Fishing Industry, a new […]
My friend developed a bad case of Lyme disease after getting a tick bite. The risk is low in B.C. but we still need to know how to prevent and handle bites. In 2004, my friend Alessandro was bitten by a tick while picking grapes in his East Vancouver yard. At one point, he noticed […]
Please use caution when carrying ladders through passageways, doorways, or any place where your view is obstructed – I was nearly hit by one last spring. It’s time for spring cleaning! But before you haul out your ladder at work or at home, I have something to say about ladder safety. Usually we talk about […]
