Six workers died from falls last year in BC – as safety advocates look for solutions to this serious problem that affects many industries, especially construction.

Vibration transmitted through the seat or feet is known as whole-body vibration (WBV) – and it can lead to fatigue, insomnia, headaches, and muscle fatigue, especially in the back. Seat technology offers hope, as researchers work with the driving community.

Working in pairs, taking breaks in the shade, and scheduling the hardest tasks when it’s cool are among the preventive measures taken by workers at a BC vineyard.

A warning from Parks Canada reminds outdoor workers to be prepared for bears by travelling in groups, carrying bear spray, and driving with care.

Canadian Agricultural Safety Week runs from March 10-16, 2013. It is a national farm safety public education campaign focusing on the importance of farm safety practices.

What is addiction? About 400,000 people in BC – as well as their loved ones, friends, and coworkers – have an idea. That’s the estimated number of people who struggle with this disease that brings much risk to a worksite.

The right approach to incident investigation – focusing on change not blame – is the way to better safety in future, say the organizers of “Incident Investigations in Health Care and Social Services” presented by WorkSafeBC on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013 in Richmond, B.C.

I stopped by the BC Safety Charter Roundtable in Vancouver on Nov 29 and heard an interesting group exercise. Dr. Graham Lowe, speaking on leadership and trust, asked his audience of CEOs and senior managers “to write down two simple actions you will take this week to build trust” with their workers. Then he asked for volunteers to read them aloud.

“When an incident occurs in the workplace, a common reaction is to look for somewhere to place blame. It’s more important and productive to look for reasons why the incident happened and what can be done to prevent it from recurring.”