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According to WorkSafeBC, workplace injury rates remained between 2.2 and 2.3 per 100 workers between 2014 and 2018. The rate of serious injury was consistently 0.3 per 100 workers during this period.5
Young and new workers may be at greater risk for injury due to: inexperience, lack of training or orientation, lack of understanding or preparation of the workplace, or exposure to more dangerous jobs.1 Young males are at a higher risk of workplace injury than young female workers (15 to 24-years-old).3
Sprains and strains accounted for approximately 55% of claims, with slightly over one-quarter of these requiring long recovery periods.4
Education is a common strategy used to prevent occupational injuries. However, its effectiveness is often measured using surrogate measures instead of true injury outcomes. To evaluate the effectiveness of workplace educational interventions, we selectively analyzed studies that reported injury outcomes. The review was published in 2020.
Despite legal protections for young workers in Canada, youth aged 15–24 are at high risk of traumatic occupational injury. While many injury prevention initiatives targeting young workers exist, the challenge faced by youth advocates and employers is deciding what aspect(s) of prevention will be the most effective focus for their efforts. A review of the academic and grey literatures was undertaken to compile the metrics—both the indicators being evaluated and the methods of measurement—commonly used to assess injury prevention programs for young workers. Metrics are standards of measurement through which efficiency, performance, progress, or quality of a plan, process, or product can be assessed. The review was published in 2018.
Professional firefighters are exposed to a variety of injury hazards over the course of their occupation, including: extreme temperatures, toxic substances, strenuous physical labour, unstable structures, falling objects, extreme heights, violence and traumatic events. The purpose of this study was to describe the determinants of injury, disease and death among Canadian firefighters by age, gender, region, and employment status. Read the technical report.
This study explored how demographic characteristics, life experiences, and firefighting experiences have an impact on work-related injuries and cancer experiences among female firefighters.
BCIRPU is a strategic partner of Preventable, a social marketing campaign aimed at reducing the burden of serious injuries at home, at work, at play, and on the road. In addition to delivering public-facing social marketing campaigns aimed at changing attitudes and behaviours towards workplace safety, the Preventable@ program provides an opportunity for workplace partners to connect to a market-tested, evaluated, evidence-informed larger injury prevention “brand” (Preventable) to support and enhance their own occupational health and safety programs, campaigns, and strategies while raising their corporate social responsibility profile.
Join the Community at preventable.ca
Although concussions can occur in any workplace, WorkSafeBC data show that the service industry (including healthcare, tourism, food services, etc.), has the highest number of reported concussions that result in time away from work, followed by trades and construction. The development of CATT for Workers and Workplaces (CATT WW) included an extensive international environmental scan and literature review. Taking an integrated knowledge translation approach, the development of this toolkit included end-user participation, ensuring both relevant content and delivery of the information to the target groups, as well as buy-in for knowledge translation and exchange. User research included interviews/focus groups with workers from multiple industries who had sustained and recovered or were in the recovery process from a concussion, and key expert interviews with joint occupational health and safety committee participants and WorkSafeBC and healthcare professionals who are involved in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of concussions for employees.
CATT WW includes a free 30 to 45-minute e-learning course with a certificate of completion provided, as well as a selection of tools and resources for concussion awareness, response, management and prevention. Print resources are portable, cost effective, easy and quickly referred to, and which provide appropriate reminders for diligence about safety in the workplace.
View the CATT Workers and Workplaces toolkit
Both employers and employees have key roles in preventing workplace injuries.5 This includes employer responsibilities to provide necessary information, training, and supervision, investigating and reporting injury incidents, and compliance with occupational health and safety standards. Employee responsibilities include understanding of worker rights under the Canada Labour Code, including the right to know, the right to participate and the right to refuse dangerous work; and participation in training, use of safety materials and equipment, following proper work procedures, and following appropriate reporting procedures.
1. WorkSafeBC. Young and New Workers. Available from: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/health-safety/education-training-certification/young-new-worker
2. WorkSafeBC Annual Report Statistics 2018. Available from: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/resources/about-us/annual-report-statistics/2018-stats?lang=en
3. WorkSafeBC. Industry claims analysis: Time-loss claims in B.C. Available from: https://public.tableau.com/profile/worksafebc#!/vizhome/IndustryclaimsanalysisTime-lossclaimsinB_C_/Didyouknow
4. WorkSafeBC. Provincial Overview: Key Statistics, 2009 to 2018. Available from: https://public.tableau.com/profile/worksafebc#!/vizhome/Provincialoverview/Didyouknow
5. Government of Canada. Workplace Safety. Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/health-safety/workplace-safety.html
The BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit is a leader in the production and transfer of injury prevention knowledge and the integration of evidence-based injury prevention practices in the daily lives of those at risk, those who care for them, and those with a mandate for public health and safety in British Columbia.
F508 – 4480 Oak St.
Vancouver, BC, V6H 3V4
Email: bcinjury@bcchr.ca
