Canadian Occupational Safety

6 Canadian Occupational Safety www.cos-mag.com WORKPLACE NEWS Mental health to be covered in fi rst aid T he Canadian Red Cross will start incorporating mental health programming into its standard fi rst-aid training. Just like basic fi rst aid provides the skills needed to help in a medical emergency, this program will enable Canadians to recognize the signs and symptoms of a developing mental health emergency and assist the individual until the crisis is resolved or help arrives. A survey of 1,000 people commissioned by the Canadian Red Cross found that while the vast major- ity (98 per cent) feel it's important to respond to a mental health emergency, less than one-half would be comfortable taking action. Respondents did not feel confi dent in their ability to assist with: • a psychotic episode (73 per cent) • acute stress (61 per cent) • suicidal thoughts (59 per cent) • depression (51 per cent). Younger Canadians (age 18 to 34) were the most likely to recognize a developing mental health emer- gency, found the survey. Mental health training will be fully integrated into Canadian Red Cross fi rst-aid courses by winter 2017. Another new program will also be launched in 2017 for emergency responders that will train them to provide mental health support following emer- gencies. Natural disasters and emergencies can take a huge toll on the mental health of those affected and psychological support following a disaster or emergency can really help people manage the impact of the event, said the Canadian Red Cross. This program will mean that those affected by emergen- cies are having more than just their physical needs addressed, they will also be supported through the trauma these events can cause. "Good mental health is the key to a safe and healthy community," said Conrad Sauvé, president and CEO of the Canadian Red Cross. "These new programs will empower both individual Canadians and fi rst responders to pro- vide compassion and care to those experiencing emo- tional trauma and mental health distress." GoodLife instructors, personal trainers campaigning for union F itness instructors and personal trainers at GoodLife Fitness in Toronto are campaigning to form a union to address a number of concerns, including lack of workers' compensation coverage. These workers are particularly concerned about acute, one-time injuries as well as repetitive strain injuries. One group fi tness instructor was teaching a class when she slipped a disk in her back. She was not able to teach at GoodLife for eight months and she was off work at her day job for six months. (Most fi tness instructors are part-time while all personal trainers are full-time employees.) It wasn't until after she was injured that she realized she did not have workers' compensation coverage. "If they get injured, they're completely out on their own," said Tanya Ferguson, organizing co-ordinator at the Workers United Canada Council, which is seeking to represent the fi tness professionals. "It compromises their full-time work and there's substantial fi nancial hardship on them." GoodLife, which is headquartered in London, Ont., is on the list of industries that are exempt from reg- istering with Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). Health clubs, insurance companies, travel agencies, hair salons and funeral directors are just some examples of exempt industries. Vice-president of people and culture at GoodLife, Alana Free, said the company had previously considered voluntarily registering with the WSIB but decided against it as the company's focus is on prevention. "Patch (David Patchell-Evans), the owner of GoodLife, often talks about how we're the new health care. Our whole goal is eat well, treat your body well, exercise properly," said Free. "Our philosophy as a company is let's bring in education, let's bring in training, let's make sure we bring in other programs so that people don't get hurt in the fi rst place. Let's spend our dollars there so we can have healthy, happy associates." GoodLife offers a range of health and safety training and awareness sessions, including general safety, fi rst aid and CPR, WHMIS, violence and harassment and mental wellness. Instructors and personal trainers are also required to go through specifi c training to receive the appropriate certifi cation before they can start teaching a class or taking on clients. "They learn how to do things properly and how to teach other people but you're also learning how to make sure you stay safe as well. So they know how to do a proper squat, how to lift things properly, they know when you push a weight over your shoulders you want to have it slightly in front of your body instead of behind to keep your shoulders safe," said Free. If an instructor or personal trainer does sustain an injury, GoodLife works with the individual to develop a personalized return-to-work plan. "The big thing is let's get them back to work as soon as it's safe and let's do a graduated program so they can come back and not re-injure themselves," said Free. Instructors and personal trainers also have access to an employee assistance program, medical benefi ts and short- and long-term disability leave. By forming a union these workers would be able to bargain for access to WSIB coverage and income pro- tection in the event of a workplace injury, said Ferguson. "These guys are saying, 'We want to stick together, we don't want to be putting our necks out and saying we should do this and now I'm the troublemaker and I lose my job or I'm sort of banned from the industry.'" Other key issues fi tness professionals say they are facing include low wages and insuffi cient hours, not being adequately compensated for time worked and having to pay for training and uniforms. Workers United is in the process of collecting union cards. The group is aiming for support from 65 per cent of instructors and personal trainers, even though the law requires only 40 per cent. If the union is successful in Toronto, it could expand to other jurisdictions that have expressed interest, such as Ottawa and Calgary. GoodLife has more then 350 clubs across the country. National fi shing safety training program announced T ransport Canada has announced signifi - cant funding to support an education and awareness initiative that promotes safe boating practices on board small commercial fi shing vessels across the country. "Our investment… will help enhance the lives and livelihoods of Canada's commercial fi shers by helping to reduce loss of life, inju- ries and property damage due to accidents on the water," said Minister of Transport Marc Garneau. Fish Safe, a not-for-profi t health and safety organiza- tion for British Columbia's commercial fi shing industry, will receive up to $900,000 over three years to expand its successful safety education program, the Safest Catch program. This free program was developed by fi shers, for fi shers in B.C. in 2009. Commercial fi shers teach participants about relevant regulatory requirements and how to make safety an integral part of their com- mercial fi shing business. "The Safest Catch program is the result of commercial fi shermen coming together to identify their most pressing needs and the best practices for overcom- ing or managing them," said Ryan Ford, program manager at Fish Safe. "This approach creates ownership of safety among commercial fi shermen versus mere compliance with regulatory rules." The program provides fi shers with tools and knowledge needed to create their own on board, vessel-specifi c safety equipment orientation, emergency drills and documented emergency procedures. Safest Catch was designed to remove the need for knowledge transfer from the classroom to the reality of a fi shing vessel. "Fishermen experience many 'Aha' moments learning on board their vessels versus a generic classroom environment," said Ford. "This type of teaching and resulting realizations are so important because they help to identify hazards that may be unique to a vessel or specifi c fi shing operation, and give the skipper and crew the knowledge and tools they need to prepare to manage the specifi c risks they may encounter while fi shing." Fish Safe is working to engage safety associations, educators and industry groups in Quebec and the Maritimes to help identify and meet the local needs of commercial fi shers in their respective locations and fi sheries. Commercial fi shing is recognized by the International Maritime Organization as one of the most dangerous occupations in the world. Between 2004 and 2013, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada reported a total of 72 fatalities from fi shing vessel accidents in Canada. "We look forward to the journey ahead and the prospect of working hand-in- hand with fi shermen across Canada in the quest to come home safely season after season," said Ford.

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