WSPS Content Update – December

Dec 06, 2024

By Pam Robertson

Articles

• The Working for Workers Five Act (Bill 190) is now law: Learn how inspectors will check for compliance – Bill 190, the Working for Workers Five Act, makes several changes to the OHSA and is now law. Learn what inspectors will look for and how these changes impact your business.
• Hiring gig workers? Do you know your responsibilities as an employer?– Gig workers often have precarious working conditions and change workplaces frequently. This puts them at higher risk for occupational injuries and illnesses. Find out how you can mitigate their health and safety risks.
• Holiday countdown: keep employees safe with this 7-point checklist– The seasonal rush of customers is good news for retailers, but can raise injury risks for employees working faster, harder and longer to meet demands. More customers can also mean greater potential for exposure to respiratory illnesses and violence and harassment. Use this checklist to raise awareness and adjust your programs and training.
• Mechanical Material Handling Q&A: Your questions answered – Unsafe mechanical material handling can lead to devastating injuries, even death. This Q&A will help you prevent this by helping you understand the causes, impacts, solutions, and legislation.
• Respond to crime and violence in your retail business with this free guide – Ontario businesses are facing a significant surge in retail crime, violence, and harassment. Learn how to protect your workplace and team with a new comprehensive guide.
• Grain entrapment: 5 tips to plan, prepare and prevent tragedy (Agriculture) – Grain entrapment can be fatal in minutes. Having a team trained on-site who can act quickly can make the difference between life and death. Get 5 tips to prevent grain entrapment on your farm.

Podcasts

• Farm Safety Roundup Episode 11: Grain Entrapment Prevention and Rescue – The speed and force of flowing grain can render a person helpless in seconds and the risk exists not only in grain bins, but gravity wagons and semi-trailers as well. WSPS Health and Safety Consultant, Ryan Dick joins Real Ag’s Shaun Haney from his farm in Douglas to look at the risks associated with grain handling and storage and to share strategies to prevent grain entrapment with recommendations on how to be well prepared for an emergency.

Health and Safety Downloads

• The Ergonomics of Roadside Tire Change – When changing tires by the roadside, the hazard of oncoming traffic is a serious concern. Learn how to change a tire safely with this free guide.
• Infographic Poster: Mechanical Safeguarding Poster – Use this poster to help workers remember when safeguarding devices are needed and how to determine if the guards are adequate.

MLITSD Inspections: Support

• MLITSD Workplace Compliance Initiatives: 2024-2025 Inspections & Support for Your Business – Need help understanding the focus of an initiative and where WSPS can provide support? We’ve got you covered. Check out this page to learn more and find out how we can help.

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Letter to MP Barrett regarding Strike at Canada Post

Dec 05, 2024

By Pam Robertson

December 5, 2024

MP Michael Barrett

Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes

House of Commons

Ottawa ON  K1A 0A6

Via electronic mail: michael.barrett@parl.gc.ca

Re: Strike at Canada Post

MP Barrett

On behalf of the Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce, I am writing to urge you to immediately intervene and do everything necessary to end the strike that has now shut down operations at Canada Post for more than two weeks.

Last year, Canada Post delivered almost six and a half billion pieces of mail, parcels, and messages, to more than 17 million addresses across the country, and as a result, this work stoppage has an impact on millions of Canadians and businesses who rely on the postal service every day.

This is yet another blow to our supply chains, with a disproportionate impact on entrepreneurs and small businesses engaged in e-commerce, many of whom are counting on doing a considerable amount of business during the holiday season.

Families and Businesses in Brockville and District have faced a high cost of living that has only been exacerbated by the numerous supply chain disruptions across Canada in recent years due to wildfires, floods, blockades, and the COVID-19 pandemic. There were strikes last year across the ports in British Columbia and the St. Lawrence Seaway, and as you know all too well, labour disputes over the past few months that paralyzed Canada’s rail network and shut down our largest East and West coast ports. Added to the lack of predictability resulting from disputes with Canada’s border agents, as well as Air Canada’s cargo network, there has simply been no predictable movement of goods or stability in prices.

We are respectfully asking that you put the families and businesses in our community first by intervening to get this dispute resolved, as we cannot continue to pay the price of inaction.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Pamela Robertson

Executive Director

Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce

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SLC Opens and Names State-of-the-Art Specialty Nursing Lab 

Dec 05, 2024

By Pam Robertson

St. Lawrence College (SLC) is thrilled to announce the opening of its Specialty Nursing Lab on the Kingston campus made possible through the generous support of a $400,000 donation from the William James Henderson Foundation. This learning facility, equipped with advanced technology and immersive sensory learning tools, will be dedicated to specialty curriculum training for nursing students and healthcare professionals. In recognition of this outstanding donor support, the facility will be named the William James Henderson Foundation Specialty Nursing Lab.  
 
“State-of-the-art healthcare facilities like this ensure SLC nursing grads are ready to respond to high-pressure situations through experiential and practical learning,” said Michael Hickey, The William James Henderson Foundation.  “We are proud to support this important new lab that will enable new programming and training.”  
 
“The Specialty Nursing Labs on the Kingston and Brockville campuses will enable our healthcare academic team to deliver specialized training and provide students with hands-on experience in simulated specialty environments, equipping them for success in their careers,” said Dr. Barb LeBlanc, Associate Vice President, Academic. “These state-of-the-art labs will benefit our students and become a hub for upskilling and reskilling healthcare professionals from Eastern Ontario and beyond.” 
 
“With more than half of our programs dedicated to healthcare and related fields, SLC remains deeply committed to preparing the next generation of the global healthcare workforce,” said Glenn Vollebregt, President and CEO of SLC. 
 
“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of the Henderson Foundation, whose support is both inspiring and transformative,” Vollebregt added. “Their gift will have a lasting impact on the communities, families, and individuals served by SLC graduates throughout their careers. The William James Henderson Foundation Specialty Nursing Lab marks a critical advancement in helping us continue to meet the pressing demand for skilled healthcare professionals in our region and beyond.” 
 
The William James Henderson Foundation Specialty Nursing Lab will create opportunities for students to practice responses to urgent and high-pressure healthcare scenarios, helping to ensure they graduate with the skills and confidence to excel in their careers. The lab will also host workshops and training sessions for current healthcare providers, further enhancing the quality of care available in Eastern Ontario. 
 
This openings of the William James Henderson Foundation Specialty Nursing Lab in Kingston on December 3 and a new Specialty Nursing Lab in Brockville on December 17 and the Tom and Gail Kaneb Family Foundation Paramedic Simulation Centre last May mark the completion of SLC’s donor-supported upgrades to its health sciences learning spaces on all three campuses announced in May 2023.  
 
The introduction of these high-quality learning spaces underscores SLC’s dedication to excellence in healthcare education and addressing the critical need for skilled professionals in the field. These state-of-the-art facilities represent a collaborative achievement, made possible by the generosity of donors and the commitment of the college’s healthcare education team. As SLC continues to invest in innovative learning environments, it reaffirms its role as a leader in training future healthcare providers and supporting the professional growth of practitioners across Eastern Ontario and beyond. 
 
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ABOUT ST. LAWRENCE COLLEGE (SLC)

St. Lawrence College is situated on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples; we are grateful to live and learn on these lands. With campuses in Kingston, Brockville, and Cornwall, SLC delivers education and training that meets the needs of community, industry, and employers. The College prepares students to succeed in the global economy through relevant, practical programs and experiential learning opportunities. SLC offers more than 100 full-time programs including diplomas, degrees, graduate certificates, apprenticeships, micro-credentials and life-long learning opportunities. Everyone belongs in the SLC community, comprised of 12,000 full-time students and more than 125,000 alumni in 75 countries around the world.

Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of St. Lawrence College. WARNING: Computer viruses can be transmitted via email. The recipient should check this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses. St. Lawrence College accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email.

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