Read these safety rules. You must know this on your first day at work. A safety habit is something that a person does many times. It becomes a normal part of the day.

Think safe

1. Do the following before you start working:
• Look for safety hazards.Hazards are things or actions that might hurt someone.
• Look for them before they cause harm.
2. Compare Canada and your first country.
• Ask yourself: Were the safety standards in my first country the same as in Canada? How are they different?
• Follow the safety standards for Canada.
• Change your thinking and practices.
• Protect yourself and your co-workers.
3. Stay open to learning.
• Don’t think that you know everything about safety.
• Learn about safety every day. Don’t become careless or lazy.
• Think and act safely for yourself and your coworkers.
4. Take the “family” test.
• Do you practice safety at home?
• Do you teach it to your family so that they practice it at home?

Think safe for your coworkers

1. Don’t just think about your own safety.
2. Think of ways to prevent injuries or incidents. Help to keep your co-workers safe.

Tell your supervisor when you are hurt

1. don’t hide an injury.
• Don’t be afraid to lose a shift, your salary, or losing your job.
• Continued work makes the injury worse.
• The injury will take longer to heal because it wasn’t treated at the start. You may need to take a longer break to heal.
2. You can get healthcare and claim workers compensation benefits in Manitoba.
3. Report your injury to the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba (WCB). Do the following:
• Tell your supervisor. Complete a form. Use the Notice of Injury to Employer Form. Your employer will report your injury to the WCB.
• Go to your doctor. Say you were hurt at work. The doctor will submit documents about your injury to the WCB.
• Call the WCB (204-954-4100 or toll-free: 1-855-954-4321). Ask for translation services if you can’t speak in English. Tell the WCB that you have missed work because of an injury. Tell them that you have seen a doctor about it.
• Do what your doctor tells you. It will help you get better faster.
• Report to your supervisor and the WCB about your recovery. Tell them when you can return to work.
4. Read the WCB Reporting an injury brochure.

Avoid the most common on-the-job injuries

1. Overexertion or working too hard is the most common on-the-job injury in Canada.
2. This results in an injury.
3. The most common injuries to workers are sprains, strains and tears.
4. The spine, the wrists and ankles are the body parts that are injured most often.

To avoid this:

1. Listen to your body.
• Stop working when you feel you are pushing your body too much.
• Stretch your muscles.
2. Make changes.
• Take a break. Do something different.
• Do stretching exercises.

Ask when you are not sure

1. Some newcomers don’t want to ask because they don’t want others to think their English skills are low.
2. Your coworkers will trust you more when you ask questions. They will understand that you want to work safely.
3. You are responsible for your own safety and for your co-workers’ safety. You can be blamed if you make a mistake that hurts a coworker.

Say No to Unsafe Work

1. If someone asks you to do something unsafe, say “I am sorry. I cannot do this work because I think it is unsafe for me and the team.”
2. You have the right to refuse unsafe work. It is part of Occupational Health and Safety laws.
3. Your employer must always make sure you are qualified and capable of doing a job. You will need to take training if you are not. You might need to work with a partner who is qualified.
4. Don’t confuse unsafe work with regular job duties.
5. Example: if you have to work high above the ground and you are scared of heights. This is not unsafe work. It is only unsafe if you don’t have the proper training or the right safety equipment. It could also be unsafe if the conditions are bad (for example, stormy weather).

Wear Your PPE

1. Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is one of the most important safety practices in the workplace.
2. PPE protects your head, eyes, ears, hands, feet and legs.
3. It includes hard hats, goggles, masks, ear plugs, gloves, body suits and boots. PPE also includes respirators, harnesses and lifelines.
4. Always wear your PPE.

Do Hazard Assessment

1. A “hazard assessment” is looking for hazards before they happen. It is done at the start of your shift.
2. Examples of hazards are: a piece of wood with a nail sticking up or wet and slippery floors in an area where other workers walk through.
3. Watch out for and prevent hazards as you work.

 
Steps for hazard assessment:
Step 1 – Look around the site for any hazards or accidents that could happen.
Step 2 – Check how dangerous each hazard is: high – medium – low.
Step 3 – Control the hazard: minimize or stop the hazard.
 

4. Fill out a hazard assessment form at the start of every shift.
5. Do one by yourself even if there is no hazard assessment form. It is important for your safety.

Adapted from Working in the Canadian Workplace – Handbook (2012) by Paul Holmes. The research and development was performed by Paul Holmes of Anthony & Holmes Consulting Ltd. in partnership with Alberta Workforce Essential Skills Society (AWES).