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What is SAFE Work?
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SAFE Work is a joint initiative of the Worker’s Compensation Board of Manitoba (WCB) and the provincial Workplace Safety and Health Division (WSHD) designed to help reduce the number of workplace injuries and illnesses in Manitoba.
The injury and illness prevention strategy launched in 2003 to address a climbing time-loss injury rate that measured 5.6 per 100 workers in 2000. The strategy has since helped reduce injuries to a rate of 3.8 per 100 workers, in part thanks to the SAFE acronym – Spot the Hazard. Assess the Risk. Find a Safer Way. Every day. – and increased public awareness of the importance of safety and health on the job.
SAFE Work uses personal responsibility models, advertising, public relations campaigns and worker-targeted programs to remind people to constantly and consistently eliminate or control hazards at the workplace in hopes we can greatly reduce the number of Manitobans who are injured or killed while on the job.
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What is the difference between the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba (WCB) and the Workplace Safety and Health Division (WSHD)?
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The WCB administers both compulsory and optional no-fault insurance for workplace injuries to workers and employers in the province.
Its primary function is to provide assistance to workplaces and workers who are injured on the job through both compensation and return to work services. The WCB also provides prevention services such as training and consulting workplaces on safety and health.
WCB team members work one-on-one with injured workers to help them recover and return to work, and they work with employers to make workplaces safer and healthier.
In contrast, the Workplace Safety and Health Division’s primary roles include inspections, enforcement and training, along with other activities aimed at preventing workplace injury and illness. WSHD officers inspect workplaces to ensure they comply with safety and health legislation and they investigate when incidents and injuries are reported.
WSHD officers also serve as a resource to help Manitoba employers and workers meet their legal requirements to prevent injury and illness by eliminating or controlling work-related hazards.
Furthermore, WSHD staff also provide training programs to workers and employers across the province, answer questions/concerns/complaints related to safety and health on the job, and develop resource material (ex. guidelines and information bulletins) on a wide variety of occupational safety and health topics.
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What training and programs does SAFE offer?
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Both the Workplace Safety and Health Division (WSHD) and Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba (WCB) offer training to help keep our province’s workers safe and free of injury and illness.
These courses and seminars touch on basic knowledge of WCB procedures, WSHD requirements and a variety of specialized topics designed to increase safety and health on the job, decrease the number of hazardous incidents and increase productivity because of a healthier, more aware overall workforce.
The majority of training is free and offered throughout the year at venues across the province. Below, find a list of training offered.
WCB Training:
WCB Basics concentrates on the key points of interaction between WCB, employers and workers including rate-setting, managing costs, reporting injuries, decision making, dispute resolution, claims management and the benefits of return-to-work programs.
Return to
Work Basics provides participants an understanding of the basic
components and best practices required to develop or enhance a
workplace Return to Work Program. A well-functioning RTW program will
support injured workers in their safe and timely return to work and
assist employers in managing their WCB Rates.
Prevention Basics - coming soon!
To register for a WCB course, contact Bonnie Marchant by email or phone – 204.954.4501.
WSHD Training:
Blasting is a required course for the Blaster’s Certificate (a fee is charged for this training program).
Chemical and Biological Hazard Control provides instruction on identifying products, evaluating the hazards, developing an action plan to prevent worker exposure and evaluating the plan’s effectiveness. The course is useful for committee members, employers, supervisors and other employees.
Investigating Workplace Incidents provides an overview on how to conduct an incident investigation at your workplace. It includes techniques for information gathering, interviewing witnesses and preparing the report. The course is useful for committee members, employers, supervisors and other employees.
Musculoskeletal Injury Risk Assessment provides specific instruction on MSI risk assessment.
SAFE Committee Basics provides an overview on the rights and responsibilities of people in the workplace for meetings, hazard recognition and control, inspections and right-to-refuse situations. The course is useful for committee members, employers and supervisors. It is recommended participants attend the Safe Committee Basics training course prior to attending the following courses: Safe Work Procedures, Investigating Workplace Incidents, Inspecting Your Workplace, and Safety and Health Program Development.
SAFE Work Procedures provides an overview of hazard assessment, risk assessment and controls. The main emphasis of the course is job hazard analysis and how that translates into a SAFE work procedure.
Supervisor & SAFE Work covers the rights and responsibilities of the employer, supervisor and workers in the workplace.
Inspecting Your Workplace (New) will teach participants about the different types of inspections and why they are important to help prevent workplace incidents. This course is useful for committee members, supervisors and employers.
Safety and Health Program Development (New) will teach participants about the (11) elements of a safety and health program, along with the resources available, to help develop a program at their workplace. This course is useful for anyone developing a workplace safety and health program.
To register for a WSHD course, visit the online course catalogue.
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Who do I contact for help with...?
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Both WCB and WSHD have plenty of people on hand to help you with all your workplace safety and health concerns – but not everyone offers the same areas of expertise. Below, find a list of contacts for common concerns.
If you want more information on SAFE Work programs, materials or programming, call 204.957.SAFE (7233) in Winnipeg or 1.866.929.SAFE (7233) outside Winnipeg.
For any general insurance or claim-related enquiries, call WCB information at 204.954.4321.
To report a claim, call the WCB Claim Information Centre at 204.954.4100 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. on regular business days.
To report an incident or worker injury at your workplace, call the WSHD office immediately at 204.945.3446 or (toll-free) at 1.866.888.8186. After hours, call 204.945.0581.
To report a workplace safety and health-related concern/complaint, anonymous or otherwise, call WSHD Client Services at 204.945-6848.
For help with compliance, interpretation of the act or regulations, call WSHD Client Services at 204.945.6848.
For questions about an existing WCB claim, to report a suspected fraud or to obtain a WCB publication, call 204.954.4922.
Assessment Services can help you in five main areas – registering your business, completing the Workers’ Earnings Report, dealing with overdue accounts, classifying your firm or understanding the assessment rate system. Contact them at 204.954.4505.
If you have a specific concern about a WCB action or practice, contact WCB’s Fair Practices Advocate at 204.954.4467.
The Worker Advisor Office (Department of Labour) helps workers having difficulty with the WCB claims process or an appeal. In Winnipeg, call 204.945.5787. In Brandon, call 204.726.6480. In The Pas, call 204.627.8278. For all other communities, call toll-free – 1.800.282.8069.
We also offer a 24-hour Worker Distress Line, a confidential and free service provided by KLINIC to WCB clients and their families who may experience distress or crisis. If you feel you are in danger or are a danger to others, call 204.786.8175 or 1.800.719.3809 (toll-free) immediately.
To obtain a copy of the Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulations, or a WSHD publication, call 204.945.3446.
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Where can I get help putting together my workplace safety program?
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If you click here, you
will find a breadth of resources designed especially to help workers and
safety and health committees/representatives develop and implement
programs.
If you need help beyond that, call the WSHD Client Services line, at
945.6848.
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What is 957-SAFE for?
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957-SAFE – or the SAFE Hotline – is a sort of tip line for SAFE Manitoba information. The line provides information on SAFE Work materials and programming – from training dates and times to ordering and purchasing information. If you live outside Winnipeg, you can access the same information by calling 1.866.929.SAFE toll-free.
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What is the most common injury? The most commonly injured body parts?
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According to 2008 statistics (the most recently released figures), sprains, strains and tears are the most common injuries. Hands and fingers are classified together as the most commonly injured body part. Injuries that affect the back cause the most time loss.
You can view all our injury statistics here.
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Who must I talk to when I am injured?
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Many injured workers think they are through the reporting process once they file a claim with WCB – but that’s not the case.
Employers must report worker injuries to the Workplace Safety and Health Division (WSHD) so the incident can be investigated to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
If you are not aware that your employer/supervisor or other person at your workplace reported your workplace injury to WSHD, you can do so by calling 204.945.3446 or (toll-free) at 1.866.888.8186. After hours, call 204.945.0581.