Workplace Safety Journal

Over the years, society has had some fundamental changes happen: Technology is moving with lightning speed, and a massive generational gap has developed that companies are struggling to deal with. Those that are inheriting work are driven much differently than their parents and grandparents. Younger workers no longer feel the need to be loyal to companies and being grateful for having a job no longer applies. There is a sense, in general, that employers should be grateful to have them as employees. Years of cutbacks, lay offs and an instable economy has worn on the overall morale of those that still hold these beliefs. Without a specific reason for the worker to behave, without a reward or benefit, the overwhelmed worker will refuse to perform at peak.

In Ontario and around the world workers are exposed to hazardous and potentially deadly situations every day. Much effort is put into mitigation of hazards before the work starts, but what happens when something get missed, something goes wrong. Are we prepared? Considerations for rescue have traditionally not been at the forefront of a company's safety agenda. Reliance has always been on '911' and what local Emergency Services have to offer. But, is it enough?

As a leading provider of Environmental, Occupational Health and Safety online training, Synergy has partnered with Mohawk College Enterprise to combine efforts and resources to deliver leading edge services specializing in modernizing the public and private sector.

On October 20, Ontario's legislature gave second reading to Bill 168, which amends the workplace violence and harassment provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The amendments require employers to assess the risk of workplace violence and harassment and to develop policies and programs to prevent same. The Bill also requires employers to take reasonable precautions to protect employees from domestic violence.