PEO Canada Blog

Employers want to keep their employees happy and healthy at work. Regular risk assessments as well as safety tools and measures are a large part of this. When assessing the risks associated with a workplace, air quality may not make it to the top of the list, however it is a component of the environment that should not be overlooked.   Air quality can be a contributing factor to occupational illness that can result in temporary time loss or permanent disability for employees. Air quality becomes the employers responsibly if there is a risk of significant workplace exposure to harmful substances such as particulate, fumes, or pathogens. When...

All employers have the responsibility to provide a healthy and safe place to work. Whether a business is small or large, employers are required by law to take all reasonable precautions to protect their workers from illness or injury. Employers should be aware of the Occupational Health & Safety legislation for each province they have employees working in. A key success to providing a safe work environment is preventing injuries from occurring in the first place. This can be achieved by establishing a health and safety program, providing training to employees to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to perform their jobs safely, having first aid certified...

If an employee is injured at work, there are responsibilities on both the employee and the employer when a claim is made through the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB). It is important to note that all workers have a right to make a WCB claim if they are hurt at work and that it is against the law for an employer or supervisor to ask an employee not to report an injury. The first step is to inform your employer of your injury. Try to give as much detail as possible if you are able to immediately. In the event your treatment requires more than basic first aid, you...

Slips, trips, and falls happen where there is too little traction between the footwear and the walking surface. Over 40,000 workers in Canada get injured annually due to these types of accidents, which represents about 18% of the “time-loss injuries” accepted by workers’ compensation boards across Canada. Statistics show that approximately 67% of falls happen as a result of slips and trips. Common causes of slips include:• Wet or oily surface spill• Weather hazards like snow or ice• Unanchored or loose rugs/mats Common causes of tripping are:• Poor lighting or obstructed view• Clutter• Uncovered cables• Drawers not being closed• Uneven walking surfaces like steps or thresholds Good housekeeping...