The Workers Compensation Board (WCB) has recently published four (4) new safety guides to support Island employers in keeping their workers and their workplaces safe. The guides and complementary resources are available for download on the WCB website wcb.pe.ca.

“We are very pleased to offer these four (4) new resources to Island employers to support their workplace safety practices ,” said Danny Miller, WCB’s Director of Occupational Health and Safety. “Some topics are industry specific while others are more general in nature and affect workers and employers across industries. The Guide for Communicable Disease Prevention is an example of a topical guide destined for more than one industry. If anything, the COVID-19 pandemic taught us many lessons, including the fact that communicable diseases are present not just in health care settings.”

The new resources, in alphabetical order:

• Developing a Hearing Conservation Program
• Developing a Respirator Program
• Guide for Communicable Disease Prevention
• Guide for Employers of Young Worker
 

“These new guides are excellent resources that will be useful for the construction industry,” said Sam Sanderson, General Manager of the Construction Association of PEI. “We know the topics covered in these guides – hearing conservation, the use of respirators, preventing communicable diseases and employing young workers - are topics for which we need to raise awareness in our industry. Having researched materials on hand that provide clear guidance for employers and workers to protect themselves and others is essential. At the end of the day, we all want to make it back home unharmed and to know that we kept ourselves and others safe from injury, or worse.”

“Many young employees begin their working careers in the Tourism and Hospitality industry,” explains Corryn Clemence, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island. "We recognize how important it is to balance the needs, energy, and expectations of our youth in order to provide a great experience and exceptional service to our guests and visitors. The Guide for Employer of Young Workers is a great resource for our operators to identify areas of focus and opportunities to provide a safe, enjoyable and beneficial work environment as we help develop essential skills and learning experiences for our younger employees.”

  Background Information  

     Developing a Hearing Conservation Program 

  This guide is intended to help Prince Edward islander employers and workers understand the requirements and benefits of establishing a hearing conservation program. Noise is a very serious and common hazard in many workplaces. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) General Regulations require a hearing conservation program whenever workers are exposed to noise at the workplace in excess of any noise exposure limit.

 Guide:  http://wcb.pe.ca/DocumentManagement/Document/pub_developingahearingconservationprogram.pdf 

   Developing a Respirator Program 

  When respirators are used in a workplace, a respirator program is required. This guide offers direction in developing such a program based on the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Standards. Welders, concrete workers, auto body painters and healthcare professionals are a few of the many workers at risk of exposure to breathing hazards.

 Guide: http://wcb.pe.ca/DocumentManagement/Document/pub_developingarespiratorprogram.pdf 

   Guide for Communicable Disease Prevention 

  This guide provides information for employers on a four-step process to develop a communicable disease plan. An effective plan includes ongoing measures to reduce the risk of communicable disease and additional measures for when there is an elevated risk of communicable disease.

 Guide: 

 http://wcb.pe.ca/DocumentManagement/Document/pub_communicablediseasepreventionguide.pdf 

   Guide for Employers of Young Workers 

  All Island employers are legally responsible for providing all their workers with a safe workplace, whatever their age or experience. However, young workers are among the highest risk group for workplace injury. This guide will help employers addressing the issues unique to the young worker population.

 Guide:  http://wcb.pe.ca/DocumentManagement/Document/pub_guideforemployersofyoungworkers.pdf 

 Aussi disponible en français.