Canadian Occupational Safety

24 www.cos-mag.com Canadian Occupational Safety In addition to information tailored to company size, information targeted to different industries can be benefi- cial, says Cullen. "Certain industries have different types of occupational health and safety risk factors, so targeting the information that they are receiving to their sectors is helpful for them to see, 'How does it relate to the work I'm doing on a day-to-day basis?'" says Cullen. "They need that infor- mation presented to them in an easy to access way." Kainz stresses the importance of owners not being afraid to ask ques- tions — before it's too late. "For me, as the regulator, I would far sooner you pick up the phone and call me and say, 'I got this job, this is what I am thinking. Does this make sense? Is it in compliance?'" she says. "I would far sooner say, 'You have to look at this section of the legislation' or 'You need to go talk to this group,' than I would them calling me and saying, 'We've had a tragedy.'" When developing legislation or new regulations, governments should consult with small businesses. Often- times, policies don't fit the reality of the small-business workplace, says Cullen, so it's important to bring these employers in on the ground floor to contribute to the discussion. Yet another barrier that small businesses face is they can have a tendency to see risk as an individual issue. One reason for this may be that workers are given a lot of autonomy and responsibility over their work, explains Cullen. For example, con- struction workers are often members of trade associations, follow their own rules and care for their own equip- ment. This can result in a disconnect between a worker's autonomy and the employer's overall responsibility for safety. "There is this expectation or onus that's unfair, perhaps, but I have seen it myself," she says. "I have a number of small business owners who, when I get into conversations with them, they tell me, 'Well so-and-so fell down the stairs. That's his job; he needs to know how to walk down stairs.' But were there safety rails? What was the nature of the work? Were there obstructions in the way?" According to Safety Activities in Small Businesses by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in Washington, D.C., small business managers are likely to see workplace incidents as due to factors outside their control, and they regu- larly underestimate the dangerousness of their work activities. In Improving Health and Safety in Small Businesses by the Institute for Work and Health (IWH) in Toronto, researchers found that small businesses downplay risks and both owners and workers see haz- ards as part of the job. At Vagans, Rangan takes full respon- sibility for safety and he is held accountable by his open-door policy. "We want to keep our staff's eyes and ears open to find out if there is something we can do better or if something's wrong," he says. "Staff are not afraid to talk about it." The company holds monthly safety meetings where staff are encouraged to participate and give their input. As the company began to grow, one sug- gestion was for benefits plans, which is currently in the works. Rangan is making sure the packages cover not just basic medical and dental, but also psychological services, including an employee assistance program. He repeatedly emphasizes the importance of supporting workers' mental health because it benefits both the employees and the business. Just like developing a business plan, owners should take the time to develop a safety plan as part of their start-up process, Kainz recommends. They also need to lead by example and understand that the risk belongs ulti- mately to them. "Yes, workers take risks, but is it because they have been led to believe it's acceptable to do so? You know, 'My employer doesn't wear a seat belt when he is driving the company vehi- cle, so why should I?'" Kainz says. Reg ularly communicating to employees about health and safety is a crucial component in any success- ful health and safety management program. In fact, it was a common thread among all three winners of Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)'s Small Busi- ness Health and Safety Leadership Awards in 2018. Monday morning safety talks, information inserted into paycheques and safety boards in all facilities are just some ways the winners communicate important safety messages to their staff. Small businesses need to pay partic- ular attention to occupational health and safety because all it takes is one incident to put them out of business, Kainz says. It affects their reputation; clients will become hesitant to hire them and other companies reluctant to work with them. Especially in the age of social media, all it takes is one picture on Facebook of a worker at heights without fall protection to do lasting damage. "At the end of the day, it's their name that's going to be splashed on the newspaper and in court," Kainz says. "It's their pocketbook. They have much to lose." If a small business does sustain a workplace incident, it can have serious consequences on the social dynamics within the company. Many small businesses are made up of family and friends — or they quickly become so — and an incident can be hard on everyone. "I have seen too often where there is a serious incident or fatality and they are paralyzed because that was their brother, that was their friend as much as it was an employee," says Kainz. Small business owners are often close with their employees' children and families, so when something bad happens, they really feel it, she adds. Rangan shudders at the thought of one of his workers getting hurt. For him, putting a health and safety program in place is of the utmost importance because he knows that he is doing everything he can to protect his employees. "I have a moral responsibly for my staff," he says. "If something goes wrong, I have to live with that, and if I tried to cut short on something and that costed us, that's really hard for me to live with." COS • Emergency procedures posted at the work site • First-aid kits • First-aid log book to track injuries and ensure kit is replenished • An injury reporting procedure • Injury report form. Along with a policy and procedure, there must be an investigation report form. Inspection reports and review logs are important documents to have on hand. Source: Occupational Health and Safety Program Guide for Small Businesses, Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut 8 9 8. DO YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS? 9. DO YOU HAVE INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES IN PLACE? 10. DO YOU MAINTAIN RECORDS AND REVIEW YOUR PROGRAM? © 2019 Thomson Reuters Canada Limited TR706204-NK Available Risk-Free for 30 Days Online: store.thomsonreuters.ca Call Toll-Free: 1-800-387-5164 | In Toronto: 416-609-3800 Your responsibility to ensure compliance has never been more critical New Edition Pocket Ontario OH&S Act & Regulations 2019 – Consolidated Edition Your peers rely on this bestselling pocket resource for invaluable guidance on workplace safety law. From preparing job hazard analyses and creating safety training programs to performing violence risk assessments, this edition will help your organization meet all your OHSA obligations under the new changes. 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