Prevention
In Canada, provinces have made progress in reducing the number of injuries in the workplace . However, the overall number of work-related deaths remains unacceptably high because deaths due to work-related disease have increased steadily over the past three decades. Despite this increase, recognizing and preventing work-related disease continues to present significant challenges, and requires different (and sometimes unique) approaches from those that target injuries – although, at the core, the elimination or reduction of hazardous exposures and the control of risks are fundamental. Occupational diseases are frequently not recognized as being related to workplace exposures, particularly because, for many diseases, the exposure which contributed to their development occurred many years ago. As well, occupational diseases often result from repeated exposures to invisible harmful agents rather than a single event. The development of prevention strategies for specific diseases and exposures is critical to reducing the number of worker deaths in Canada.
Need/Data
According to national AWCBC data, there were 592 occupational disease deaths in Canada vs. 312 traumatic fatalities in 2016, and the rate is increasing in most provinces. Plus the numbers don't reflect deaths in workplaces not covered by a compensation board; from diseases not recognized to be work-related; nor those that are simply not reported. And of course, there are thousands more debilitating but non-fatal illnesses and health impacts, including occupational deafness, dermatitis and asthma. Prevention is needed, and it is possible. It is all about recognizing the potential for harm and doing something about it.
The link between exposure and disease is often unclear medically, scientifically and practically, partly due to the literal and figurative “invisibility” of a hazardous substance and its delayed impact. Clearer data is needed to better identify patterns of disease incidence within occupations and workplaces. Adding occupational information to health data is seen as a key, but difficult to implement. In the meantime, known health hazards need to be identified and managed to minimize exposure and harm. This is the reason for WHMIS. It is critical to take it seriously, read labels and data sheets, reflect on product use in the workplace, and manage exposure to minimize the potential for harm.
Prevention Basics
Public health identifies three levels of prevention which have occupational parallels: Primary (1) prevention is focused on preventing disease or injury at the source, before it can even occur, and is by the far the most effective. Secondary (2) prevention aims to raise awareness and catch symptoms early to reduce the impact (and spread) of a disease or injury through education, hazard communication and screening programs. Tertiary (3) prevention focuses on reducing the harm and impact of an illness or injury through facilitating treatment, ensuring income security, organizing accommodation, and supporting return to work, while increasing local and societal recognition (and eventual exposure control) through compensation documentation and associated costs.
R.A.C.E. to Health
Eliminating or reducing harmful exposures requires a R.A.C.E. approach: Recognize the presence and existence of the hazard; Assess the potential for worker exposure and risk of harm; Control any exposure to eliminate or minimize risk; Evaluate solutions to be certain they're effective and/or improve hazard control. R.A.C.E. should be an ongoing continuous improvement cycle used in workplaces large and small, and will contribute to health, safety, productivity and sustainability.
Control is the Goal
The main ways to control exposure in a workplace in descending order of effectiveness (commonly called the Hierarchy of Controls) are:
- Elimination (including substitution): to remove the hazard from the workplace, or replace hazardous materials, machines or processes with less harmful ones
- Engineering Controls: design or modification of plants, equipment, ventilation systems, and/or processes to isolate the source or the worker, or otherwise reduce exposure
- Administrative Controls: alteration of the way the work is done, including scheduling, timing, policies and rules, work practices (e.g. operating procedures, housekeeping, maintenance, and hygiene access) as well as education, training and coaching
- Personal Protective Equipment: equipment worn by individuals to reduce exposure such as contact with chemicals or exposure to noise. Often ineffective and unreliable, affected by many variables including fit, age, pace, training, comfort
Workplaces should regularly review the opportunity to move control of hazards up the hierarchy to optimize effectiveness and minimize exposure.
Prioritize to Mobilize
Risk assessment is a systematic approach to identifying hazards and reducing exposure risks in a workplace in 3 or 4 steps, and can also be used for prioritization:
- Identify hazards and risk factors that have the potential to cause harm (hazard identification).
- Analyze and evaluate the risk associated with actual, probable or possible exposure to that hazard (risk analysis, and risk evaluation).
- Determine ways to eliminate the hazard(s), or control the risk(s) when the hazard cannot be eliminated (risk control).
- Assess for feasibility of implementation and potential effectiveness of control.
- Implement based on need and opportunity.
- Evaluate for effectiveness.
Focus on Exposure
Occupational hygiene uses methods for exposure identification and management following the techniques of anticipation, identification, evaluation, and control. The goal is to identify solutions for eliminating or reducing the hazard, and monitoring to ensure no further harm occurs. Occupational exposure limits are a factor in this process. In general, an occupational exposure limit (OEL) represents the maximum airborne concentration of a toxic substance to which most (but not all) workers can be exposed over a period of time without suffering harmful consequences. However, many substances don't have an OEL, and the existing ones are often reduced based on new information, so it is important to strive for ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) exposure where possible. Measurement of levels is ideal, but difficult to achieve and not always representative. Therefore other methods of understanding and managing any associated risks (e.g. control banding) can help.
Comply and Protect
A key component in the reduction of harmful exposures is the development of (and compliance with) legislation and regulations, which are considered to be minimum standards for managing health and safety in the workplace. Ministries of Labour (MOL) are generally responsible for occupational health and safety legislation, and the development and updating of regulations and enforcement. Many provinces set occupational exposure limits (OELs) (e.g. Ontario's more than 725) for common hazardous biological and chemical substances as well as have broader general duty clauses. The scientific basis for OELs continues to evolve and hence there are regular reviews to determine whether they need to be updated. It is critical that workplace parties, especially small and medium-sized employers without professional staff, seek information and support to assist them in worker protection, including complying with and building on current and future legislation and regulations.
Inform with WHMIS
WHMIS, the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, is the primary framework for providing health and safety information on hazardous products used, handled, or stored in Canadian workplaces. WHMIS is now aligned with the worldwide hazard communication system known as GHS – the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals for consistency and comprehension. However, the key pillars of the framework remain: hazard classification; labels with universally recognized hazard symbols and risk phrases; safety data sheets with detailed hazard, use and emergency response information; and regular mandatory training. In order to truly protect workers from hazardous exposures, WHMIS has to be enlivened in a workplace through engagement, dialogue and review at the floor, lab, safety committee and management levels. It is the best tool we have - let's use it!
The Role of Compensation
Workers compensation is an insurance system meant to provide income security for workers, cost limitation for employers, and resource protection for healthcare. However, it plays a significant role in prevention. Literally, through the programs and initiatives it develops to educate, motivate and support employers, as well as the secondary role of supporting worker recovery and reintegration, and especially, the tertiary prevention role of accepted claims (and their costs) driving recognition of hazards and ultimately exposure elimination or control. Their claims data is relied upon heavily to identify patterns of injury and illness for strategic intervention and to measure improvement and validate success. Find compensation-related links and resources here.
Ontario OHS System
This website is the product of a Strategic Opportunity allocation from the Ontario Ministry of Labour Prevention Office under the Occupational Disease priority. In Ontario, three inter-related entities have mandated responsibility for occupational health and safety: the Ministry of Labour, the WSIB, and the six health and safety associations (four sector-based, one worker training centre and an occupational health clinic network), along with three funded research centres.
Within each entity, there are a number of initiatives underway aimed at preventing occupational disease. However, in January 2017 a system-wide Occupational Disease Action Plan, involving eight approaches (Intelligence & Decision Support; Research & Data Management; Awareness; Advisory & Support Services; Education & Training; Enforcement & Monitoring; Programs; and Legislation & Regulations) was launched and continues to be implemented broadly and strategically, with a yearly review.
(Inter) National Partners
While there is growing awareness of occupational diseases, preventing them remains a global challenge. National partners include the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), Canada’s resource for the advancement of workplace health and safety, along with regulators and safety associations from other provinces.
Internationally, the World Health Organization’s Global Plan of Action on Workers’ Health called for improving the diagnosis, reporting and registration of occupational diseases and building capacities for estimating the occupational burden of diseases. WHO’s activities regarding occupational and work-related diseases include: carrying out estimates of the global burden of disease from major occupational risks, such as injuries, airborne exposures, carcinogens, ergonomic stressors, noise and other specific risks; and working with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to develop diagnostic and exposure criteria for occupational diseases and to enable primary and secondary health care providers to detect and report such diseases.
Fact Sheets
-
Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk
Type: Fact Sheets
Source: National Cancer Institute -
Controlling Hazardous Substances - Managing Occupational Health Risks in Construction
Type: Fact Sheets
Source: UK Health and Safety Executive -
Hazards Associated with Diesel Exhaust Emissions
Type: Education / Training, Posters / Infographics, Tools / Apps, Fact Sheets, Guidance / Publications
Source: Workplace Safety North -
Sun Safety at Work Resource Library
Type: Posters / Infographics, Presentation / Workshops, Fact Sheets
Source: Sun Safety at Work Canada (SSAWC) -
WHMIS.org
Type: Fact Sheets
Source: Health Canada
Research
-
Assessment of Diesel Exhaust Exposure in Municipal Fire Halls in Ontario
Type: Research, Guidance / Publications
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) -
Burden of Occupational Cancer in Ontario: Major Workplace Carcinogens and Prevention of Exposure
Type: Research
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) -
Can Public Health Risk Assessment Using Risk Matrices Be Misleading?
Type: Research
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health -
Evaluating Risk: A Revisit of the Scales, Measurement Theory, and Statistical Analysis Controversy
Type: Research
Source: Reliability and Maintainability Symposium (RAMS) -
Recommendations on the use and design of risk matrices
Type: Research
Source: Safety Science -
Review of the Strengths and Weaknesses of Risk Matrices
Type: Research
Source: The Journal of Risk Analysis and Crisis Response -
Stability and Reproducibility of Semi-Quantitative Risk Assessment Methods Within the Occupational Health and Safety Scope
Type: Research
Source: WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation -
What's Wrong with Risk Matrices?
Type: Research
Source: Society for Risk Analysis
Guidance / Publications
-
Assessment of Diesel Exhaust Exposure in Municipal Fire Halls in Ontario
Type: Research, Guidance / Publications
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) -
Forestry - Occupational Disease
Type: Guidance / Publications
Source: Workplace Safety North -
Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome: Prevention Through Intervention
Type: Guidance / Publications
Source: Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) -
Hazards Associated with Diesel Exhaust Emissions
Type: Education / Training, Posters / Infographics, Tools / Apps, Fact Sheets, Guidance / Publications
Source: Workplace Safety North -
Risk Matrix Input Data Biases
Type: Guidance / Publications
Source: The International Council on Systems Engineering
Posters / Infographics
-
Controlling Diesel Particulate Matter from On-road Diesel Engines
Type: Posters / Infographics
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) -
Controlling Diesel Particulate Matter in Construction
Type: Posters / Infographics
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) -
Hazards Associated with Diesel Exhaust Emissions
Type: Education / Training, Posters / Infographics, Tools / Apps, Fact Sheets, Guidance / Publications
Source: Workplace Safety North -
Sun Safety at Work Resource Library
Type: Posters / Infographics, Presentation / Workshops, Fact Sheets
Source: Sun Safety at Work Canada (SSAWC)
Video
-
Dangers of Diesel Exhaust Fumes for Business
Type: Video, Presentation / Workshops, Education / Training
Source: Safe Work Australia -
Diesel Exposure in Workplaces - Webinar
Type: Video, Education / Training, Presentation / Workshops
Source: CAREX Canada, the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) and Ontario’s Occupational Disease Action Plan (ODAP) Working Group on Diesel Exhaust -
Management of Diesel Exhaust Exposure
Type: Video, Education / Training, Presentation / Workshops
Source: Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists
Presentation / Workshops
-
Dangers of Diesel Exhaust Fumes for Business
Type: Video, Presentation / Workshops, Education / Training
Source: Safe Work Australia -
Diesel Exposure in Workplaces - Webinar
Type: Video, Education / Training, Presentation / Workshops
Source: CAREX Canada, the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) and Ontario’s Occupational Disease Action Plan (ODAP) Working Group on Diesel Exhaust -
Is Diesel Equipment in the Workplace Safe or Not?
Type: Presentation / Workshops, Education / Training
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) -
Management of Diesel Exhaust Exposure
Type: Video, Education / Training, Presentation / Workshops
Source: Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists -
Sun Safety at Work Resource Library
Type: Posters / Infographics, Presentation / Workshops, Fact Sheets
Source: Sun Safety at Work Canada (SSAWC)
Education / Training
-
Dangers of Diesel Exhaust Fumes for Business
Type: Video, Presentation / Workshops, Education / Training
Source: Safe Work Australia -
Diesel Exposure in Workplaces - Webinar
Type: Video, Education / Training, Presentation / Workshops
Source: CAREX Canada, the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) and Ontario’s Occupational Disease Action Plan (ODAP) Working Group on Diesel Exhaust -
Hazards Associated with Diesel Exhaust Emissions
Type: Education / Training, Posters / Infographics, Tools / Apps, Fact Sheets, Guidance / Publications
Source: Workplace Safety North -
Institute for Work and Health Speaker Series
Type: Education / Training
Source: Institute for Work and Health -
Is Diesel Equipment in the Workplace Safe or Not?
Type: Presentation / Workshops, Education / Training
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) -
Management of Diesel Exhaust Exposure
Type: Video, Education / Training, Presentation / Workshops
Source: Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists -
OCRC Resources
Type: Education / Training
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre -
UBC School of Population and Public Health Occupational and Environmental Health Seminar Series
Type: Education / Training
Source: University of British Columbia School of Population and Public Health -
WHMIS 2015: An Introduction
Type: Education / Training
Source: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)
Legislation
-
Emission Standards
Type: Legislation
Source: DieselNet -
Switzerland: Nonroad: Emissions
Type: Legislation
Source: TransportPolicy.net
Tools / Apps
-
Hazards Associated with Diesel Exhaust Emissions
Type: Education / Training, Posters / Infographics, Tools / Apps, Fact Sheets, Guidance / Publications
Source: Workplace Safety North -
Respiratory Protection eTool
Type: Tools / Apps
Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) -
StressAssess
Type: Tools / Apps
Source: Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW)
Need/Data
-
Emission Standards
Type: Legislation
Source: DieselNet -
Institute for Work and Health Speaker Series
Type: Education / Training
Source: Institute for Work and Health -
Sun Safety at Work Resource Library
Type: Posters / Infographics, Presentation / Workshops, Fact Sheets
Source: Sun Safety at Work Canada (SSAWC) -
UBC School of Population and Public Health Occupational and Environmental Health Seminar Series
Type: Education / Training
Source: University of British Columbia School of Population and Public Health
Prevention Basics
-
StressAssess
Type: Tools / Apps
Source: Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW)
R.A.C.E. to Health
-
Assessment of Diesel Exhaust Exposure in Municipal Fire Halls in Ontario
Type: Research, Guidance / Publications
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) -
Burden of Occupational Cancer in Ontario: Major Workplace Carcinogens and Prevention of Exposure
Type: Research
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) -
Controlling Diesel Particulate Matter from On-road Diesel Engines
Type: Posters / Infographics
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) -
Controlling Diesel Particulate Matter in Construction
Type: Posters / Infographics
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) -
Dangers of Diesel Exhaust Fumes for Business
Type: Video, Presentation / Workshops, Education / Training
Source: Safe Work Australia -
Diesel Exposure in Workplaces - Webinar
Type: Video, Education / Training, Presentation / Workshops
Source: CAREX Canada, the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) and Ontario’s Occupational Disease Action Plan (ODAP) Working Group on Diesel Exhaust -
Hazards Associated with Diesel Exhaust Emissions
Type: Education / Training, Posters / Infographics, Tools / Apps, Fact Sheets, Guidance / Publications
Source: Workplace Safety North -
Is Diesel Equipment in the Workplace Safe or Not?
Type: Presentation / Workshops, Education / Training
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) -
Management of Diesel Exhaust Exposure
Type: Video, Education / Training, Presentation / Workshops
Source: Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists -
Respiratory Protection eTool
Type: Tools / Apps
Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Control is the Goal
-
Controlling Diesel Particulate Matter from On-road Diesel Engines
Type: Posters / Infographics
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) -
Controlling Diesel Particulate Matter in Construction
Type: Posters / Infographics
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) -
Controlling Hazardous Substances - Managing Occupational Health Risks in Construction
Type: Fact Sheets
Source: UK Health and Safety Executive -
Dangers of Diesel Exhaust Fumes for Business
Type: Video, Presentation / Workshops, Education / Training
Source: Safe Work Australia -
Emission Standards
Type: Legislation
Source: DieselNet -
Forestry - Occupational Disease
Type: Guidance / Publications
Source: Workplace Safety North -
Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome: Prevention Through Intervention
Type: Guidance / Publications
Source: Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) -
Management of Diesel Exhaust Exposure
Type: Video, Education / Training, Presentation / Workshops
Source: Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists -
Respiratory Protection eTool
Type: Tools / Apps
Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) -
Switzerland: Nonroad: Emissions
Type: Legislation
Source: TransportPolicy.net
Prioritize to Mobilize
-
Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk
Type: Fact Sheets
Source: National Cancer Institute -
Can Public Health Risk Assessment Using Risk Matrices Be Misleading?
Type: Research
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health -
Evaluating Risk: A Revisit of the Scales, Measurement Theory, and Statistical Analysis Controversy
Type: Research
Source: Reliability and Maintainability Symposium (RAMS) -
Recommendations on the use and design of risk matrices
Type: Research
Source: Safety Science -
Review of the Strengths and Weaknesses of Risk Matrices
Type: Research
Source: The Journal of Risk Analysis and Crisis Response -
Stability and Reproducibility of Semi-Quantitative Risk Assessment Methods Within the Occupational Health and Safety Scope
Type: Research
Source: WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation -
What's Wrong with Risk Matrices?
Type: Research
Source: Society for Risk Analysis
Focus on Exposure
-
Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk
Type: Fact Sheets
Source: National Cancer Institute -
Assessment of Diesel Exhaust Exposure in Municipal Fire Halls in Ontario
Type: Research, Guidance / Publications
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) -
Dangers of Diesel Exhaust Fumes for Business
Type: Video, Presentation / Workshops, Education / Training
Source: Safe Work Australia -
Diesel Exposure in Workplaces - Webinar
Type: Video, Education / Training, Presentation / Workshops
Source: CAREX Canada, the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) and Ontario’s Occupational Disease Action Plan (ODAP) Working Group on Diesel Exhaust -
Hazards Associated with Diesel Exhaust Emissions
Type: Education / Training, Posters / Infographics, Tools / Apps, Fact Sheets, Guidance / Publications
Source: Workplace Safety North -
Is Diesel Equipment in the Workplace Safe or Not?
Type: Presentation / Workshops, Education / Training
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) -
Risk Matrix Input Data Biases
Type: Guidance / Publications
Source: The International Council on Systems Engineering
Comply and Protect
-
Emission Standards
Type: Legislation
Source: DieselNet
Inform with WHMIS
-
WHMIS 2015: An Introduction
Type: Education / Training
Source: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) -
WHMIS.org
Type: Fact Sheets
Source: Health Canada
Ontario OHS System
-
Diesel Exposure in Workplaces - Webinar
Type: Video, Education / Training, Presentation / Workshops
Source: CAREX Canada, the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) and Ontario’s Occupational Disease Action Plan (ODAP) Working Group on Diesel Exhaust -
Is Diesel Equipment in the Workplace Safe or Not?
Type: Presentation / Workshops, Education / Training
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC)
(Inter) National Partners
-
Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk
Type: Fact Sheets
Source: National Cancer Institute -
Assessment of Diesel Exhaust Exposure in Municipal Fire Halls in Ontario
Type: Research, Guidance / Publications
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) -
Burden of Occupational Cancer in Ontario: Major Workplace Carcinogens and Prevention of Exposure
Type: Research
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) -
Controlling Diesel Particulate Matter from On-road Diesel Engines
Type: Posters / Infographics
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) -
Controlling Diesel Particulate Matter in Construction
Type: Posters / Infographics
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) -
Dangers of Diesel Exhaust Fumes for Business
Type: Video, Presentation / Workshops, Education / Training
Source: Safe Work Australia -
Diesel Exposure in Workplaces - Webinar
Type: Video, Education / Training, Presentation / Workshops
Source: CAREX Canada, the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) and Ontario’s Occupational Disease Action Plan (ODAP) Working Group on Diesel Exhaust -
Institute for Work and Health Speaker Series
Type: Education / Training
Source: Institute for Work and Health -
Is Diesel Equipment in the Workplace Safe or Not?
Type: Presentation / Workshops, Education / Training
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) -
Management of Diesel Exhaust Exposure
Type: Video, Education / Training, Presentation / Workshops
Source: Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists -
OCRC Resources
Type: Education / Training
Source: Occupational Cancer Research Centre -
Respiratory Protection eTool
Type: Tools / Apps
Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) -
Sun Safety at Work Resource Library
Type: Posters / Infographics, Presentation / Workshops, Fact Sheets
Source: Sun Safety at Work Canada (SSAWC) -
Switzerland: Nonroad: Emissions
Type: Legislation
Source: TransportPolicy.net