Health and Safety Awareness in Canada
Workplace safety isn’t just about rules and regulations; it’s about protecting your people’s physical and mental wellbeing. Safety and Health Week, held annually in May, offers businesses a golden opportunity to spotlight this essential topic. Following this year’s theme, Together We Can, the week promotes collaboration between organizations and their workers as a call to action to create safer workplaces for everyone.
For HR professionals, this week presents a valuable chance to reaffirm your organization’s year-round dedication to employee wellbeing.
What is Safety and Health Week?
Safety and Health Week is an initiative focused on preventing workplace injuries and illnesses. Originating as North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week in 1997, it combines efforts from Canada, the USA, and Mexico. The name, updated in 2019, reflects an inclusive push to extend safety practices beyond workplaces to communities and homes.
From workshops to virtual events, this week is a chance to open the discussion and improve practices industry-wide.
When is Safety and Health Week in Canada?
This week traditionally begins on the first Monday in May. During this week, a variety of activities take place, ranging from social media campaigns to in-person events organized by industry leaders, safety organizations, and non-profit advocacy groups. The focus of the week is encouraging organizations to promote safety and prevent incidents through innovative and collaborative methods.
Together we can… support this year’s theme
The theme Together We Can is a call for teamwork and collaboration in workplace safety. Creating safe workplaces requires participation at every level, so cultivating a shared sense of accountability is crucial. Here’s how your organization can contribute to the mission and truly embody the spirit of the theme.
Promote open communication
Encourage employees to speak up about potential hazards or concerns without fear of judgement or retaliation. Open multiple channels of communication to give everyone in the organization a voice. Launch safety meetings or anonymous safety surveys to gather insights from employees at all levels.
Create a culture of support
Health and safety extend beyond the physical to encompass mental wellbeing, which is as important. Acknowledge stress, burnout, and work–life challenges as potential workplace hazards. Particularly in industries with high stress or physical demands, organizations must promote mental health resources and champion a culture where total wellbeing is the priority.
Leadership must set the example
When leaders and managers demonstrate their commitment, employees are more inclined to embrace safety-first practices. Show dedication by visibly participating in Safety and Health Week activities. Setting the tone from the top emphasizes that safety is a shared, companywide responsibility.
Top 3 tips for planning a safer workplace
Implementing effective safety protocols as part of your day-to-day operations doesn’t have to be daunting. Here are three actionable tips to advance worker health and safety awareness in alignment with your Safety and Health Week plans.
- Start with assessments: To enhance workplace safety, identify the areas with the greatest risk. Conduct a thorough walkthrough of the workspace, engage with teams, and collect detailed feedback on all real and potential hazards or unclear policies. After identifying any risks, create a clear and actionable plan to address them. Focus on implementing controls that eliminate hazards whenever possible and minimize remaining hazards.
- Provide regular training: Occupational health and safety training demands continuous engagement and active participation. Safety-themed webinars, onsite demonstrations, and online training courses can all help make training more engaging. Training should extend beyond basic requirements. Integrate leadership in health and safety planning, and equip supervisors and managers with the tools they’ll need to actively champion and support workplace safety programs.
- Leverage technology: Innovative HR software and health and safety management tools can help streamline processes. Technology enables HR professionals to use data to make informed decisions, from keeping incident logs to tracking training course completions. Consider implementing an HRIS to simplify and optimize your training and documentation processes, ensuring greater efficiency and seamless implementation.
Together, we can build safer workplaces in Canada
This year, Safety and Health Week reminds us all that collaboration is central to building stronger, safer workplaces. Whether it’s conducting a WHMIS training session or launching a long-term mental health program, every action contributes to safeguarding employees and championing a safety-first workplace culture.
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