Safety group releases guide for hiring professionals
Canadian employers need to increase training resources and attention to reduce deaths and injuries sustained at the workplace, according to the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE) during the launch of the annual North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) week today in Saskatoon, Sask.
"Despite the fact that two Canadians die every day at work, our nation is dangerously casual about safety," said Jim Hopkins, CSSE president.
Canadian workplaces were the source of 902 deaths and 241,933 injuries in 2013, said CSSE, citing stats from the Association of Workers Compensation Boards of Canada.
Workplace safety is a shared responsibility between employers and employees, said CSSE.
"A double-barrel effort returns win-win results," said Hopkins. Safety-focused companies increase productivity with less downtime and absenteeism. Likewise, a safety-focused workforce returns home healthy and intact. “Safety is in everyone's best interest."
In conjunction with NAOSH week, CSSE is releasing the guide Hiring a Health and Safety Practitioner for employers and occupational health and safety practitioners.
