Keeping oh&s current with changing workplaces

[ljblake]

Good Morning,

(First: I also sent this to the HS-Canada discussion list, so apologies if you have already seen this!)

A couple of weeks ago a number of you were kind enough to respond to my email about distance learning/online learning; thanks again for that.

In tandem with that research – which was to learn more about the effectiveness of “alternative” course delivery options – I have a second question:

Demographic, and other statistical info, tells us that our workplaces our changing (see below), so, how has, or maybe how should, the oh&s field kept up with the changes?

For instance, per Michael Quinlan’s presentation at CCOHS’s Emerging Health & Safety Issues From Changing Workplaces conference (as well as my own thoughts), some of the changes include:

- Shift from manufacturing to service sector
- Fall in permanent jobs and job security
- Growth of: temporary, agency, fixed-contract work micro business, subcontractors, part-time, home-based work & telework, multiple job-holding and unpaid overtime
- Growing shiftwork/stalled trend to shorter hours
- Aging, still-working population
- Growing number of new Canadians in workforce (with English as a second language, or not even a developed language yet, as well as coming from different working/regulatory backgrounds)
- Young workers
- Remote location work (oil sands, oil rigs, forestry, etc.)

While some of these may always have existed to some extent, ohs requirements and regulations have changed over the years – so, a) how are you as ohs professionals keeping up and changing/developing; and b) how are you advising your companies and/or clients about meeting the changing workforce?

This is further research for an article in a national ohs publication. I won’t use any comments without your specific permission! Please feel free to email off list.

[Brian Nodwell]

Laurie,

The biggest challenge our clients have faced here in Alberta is the high turnover rates with the boom (and now bust) of the oil industry. Your research may support my observation that young people today frequently move to different industries and between companies in each industry.

This trend toward higher turnover presents a challenge to safety departments everywhere. The workload on safety departments has virtually exploded. Orientation and training must be quick and cost effective, and records must be tracked instantaneously. Ideally, safety material should be available anywhere (be it on an oil rig, forestry reserve or wherever), and at any time of the day or night.

Technology, and the Internet specifically, is the only solution that will provide the efficiencies needed to keep up with the evolving requirements. Accounting functions were computerized two decades ago; and now very few young accounting clerks would even recognize a double-entry accounting ledger. The same migration will happen with safety management. Safety policies will be acknowledged online, Safe Operating Procedures will be reviewed on cell phones, and every imaginable piece of legislation or Material Safety Data Sheet will be available at the click of a button.

The change is already underway. Most of these software applications are available today, but until recently they were not offered as a package. CCOHS has ventured into this space with their OSH Works (http://www.ccohs.ca/products/oshworks/viewoshworks.html) software. We think we've taken it considerably further with our SAFETYSYNC (http://www.safetysync.com/) online safety management system. There are other companies that are trying to enter this market space as well, like eCompliance (http://ecompliance.ca/) and Forge Dynamics (http://forgedynamics.com/). Each player is approaching online safety management from a slightly different perspective, but we're all trying to deliver on the same goal: more efficient safety departments and improved safety performance.

We are at a very early phase in this transition. Many safety professionals are intimidated by the online solutions. They mistakenly believe the software will end up costing more than their current paper-based programs. They also think it will end up causing them more administrative work. Eventually though, the early-adopters will tell the skeptics that safety management is easier with an online solution and that their companies are much better off with an integrated solution.

If, as part of your research, you'd like to interview a safety manager at one of the companies using SAFETYSYNC, let me know. I'll put you in touch. They'd be able to provide better insight into how the Internet helps them deliver better safety results.

[ljblake]

Hi Brian, I agree that the workforce has become very mobile -- especially moving from east to west. I personally know three different families that have headed west in the last six months.

I can imagine that orientation and keeping up with both training and information provision is becoming a big headache.

I will be in touch re SafetySync.

Thanks, Laurie

[Heather]

Hi Laurie

As the CCOHS Account Manager that is working with our OSH Works clients, I would be pleased to provide you with a demonstration of the OSH Works service and/or to answer any questions you have.

OSH Works is a Web-based service that CCOHS has developed to help organizations to develop, maintain and enhance Health and Safety Programs in their workplace. You can view more information on the service on our web site at http://www.ccohs.ca/products/oshworks/. There are also recorded Webinars available that provide an overview of both the Programs version and the OHSMS version of OSH Works.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Heather Reichheld
Account Manager
CCOHS
heather@ccohs.ca
1-800-668-4284