Canadian Occupational Safety

November/December 2020

Canadian Occupational Safety (COS) magazine is the premier workplace health and safety publication in Canada. We cover a wide range of topics ranging from office to heavy industry, and from general safety management to specific workplace hazards.

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www.thesafetymag.com/ca 29 benefits of digitizing traditional processes. For many years, we have advocated for digital tools to drive efficiencies and enable employees to focus on more strategic work. Many organizations that have adapted over the last six months are realizing this and seeing the benefit it can bring, along with those who adopted digital solutions early on. We' ll continue to see greater adoption of automated technology and cloud services." [RH] "There's several trends that I think we're going to continue to see. More and more industries are going to look at Honeywell and PPE manufacturers like us for solutions, guidance and best practices in this environment. Whether it's health care or warehousing, we are seeing even more focus on safety gear that's going to be easy to use, ergonomic and comfortable. If it's not comfortable to wear, then users don't want to wear it. "We'll also see technologies that reduce or prevent the presence of bacterial contaminants. Now, it's going to be about what types of material, what types of coatings, what types of technologies really prevent bacteria and contaminants from sticking around on a surface. "I do think overall health and wellness is going to be a key trend, too, because things that keep the worker on the job site and productive are going to be key to economic growth." [SB] "With the increased focus on health and wellness triggered by the pandemic, it's likely that interest in wearables and internet of things (IoT) devices will only continue to grow. Wearables are also being explored to support contact tracing, where a user would receive an alert when in proximity to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Moreover, technology firms are currently exploring linking personal health data captured via wearables with clinical symptomology that could create early warning signs of potential infection, driving other workflows." [AB] "With all the innovations and all the tech, there is the risk of tech "As we're getting back to work … having the right solutions is going to allow us to be productive again as an economy, as a workforce and as a society." Rahil Hasan, Honeywell health and wellness issues, with reported rises in anxiety, depression, stress and substance use in many areas. So whether businesses are planning a full-scale return to work following COVID-19 or shifting toward virtual environments, they need to be aware that mental health needs will not be going away and additional resources will be required to support employees and limit health-related absenteeism, health-care spending and impacts of productivity." [COS] What tech trends will we be seeing for 2021? [VD] "As remote work continues to be prevalent, we'll see more tech innovations that allow for greater communication, safety and connectivity. Technology will be deployed in creative ways to facilitate corporate meetings and conferences safely. From health screenings to digital check-ins, there will be a touchless experience brought forward. "Workplace technology and automation adoption will increase as companies are starting to see the Recognize the OHS expertise in your organization through a BCRSP certification Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals Conseil Canadien Des Professionnels En Sécurité Agréés The Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) ® certification is designed for individuals leading or managing OHS systems and programs. They have in-depth knowledge of OHS principles and practices and apply broad based safety knowledge to analyze and develop systems that will achieve optimum control over hazards and exposures detrimental to people, equipment, material and the environment. The Canadian Registered Safety Technician (CRST) certification is designed for individuals supporting a safe working environment by maintaining OHS administrative processes, conducting training, and using a range of state-of-the- art tools, processes, and common practice solutions to occupational health and safety risks. They oversee and drive monitoring and compliance in relation to technical and behavioral risk controls. Certifications for the OHS profession The BCRSP is a public interest, not-for-profit certification body dedicated to the principles of health and safety in Canada. It develops comprehensive certification programs for OHS practitioners, including the Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) ® and Canadian Registered Safety Technician (CRST) certifications. Certification makes a difference! Visit www.bcrsp.ca to learn more about eligibility and examination requirements for the CRSP ® and CRST certification programs. Visit www.bcrsp.ca to find out more BCRSP_BCRSP_Promo_COSMag.indd 1 BCRSP_BCRSP_Promo_COSMag.indd 1 2020-09-25 2:51:38 PM 2020-09-25 2:51:38 PM

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